NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10 Conference announced Thursday the 14 winners of the A-10 Postgraduate Scholarship awards for 2019. The prestigious honor is given to a graduating student-athlete from each of the league's 14 members. For Fordham, women's swimming student-athlete (Edison, N.J./Edison) is this year's recipient.
Ko, a Public Accountancy major and four-year A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll member, capped her four-year career by placing 16th in the 400 IM and 22nd in the 200 IM at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championships while also competing in the 200 breaststroke. She competed in all three events at each of the past three Atlantic 10 Championships.
Ko is active in service projects, participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk for the past four years in Central Park and participating in the team's annual Fundraiser/Treadathon for the International Water Safety Foundation, which helps teach kids to swim in Cambodia, for the past two years. She also volunteered in the "Saturday's in Motion" program in Basking Ridge, N.J., teaching children with autism how to swim.
Over the last six years, the A-10's Postgraduate Scholarship program has awarded $420,000 to 80 former student-athletes. Each of the 14 honorees receives $5,000 to contribute towards full-time enrollment in a postgraduate or professional program. Instituted to provide continuing education opportunities for graduating student-athletes, the program annually awards $70,000 in scholarship funding to former A-10 student-athletes. This marks the fifth straight year the Atlantic 10 has provided the scholarships to 14 individuals.
"I want to congratulate this exceptional group of Postgraduate Scholarship recipients," stated Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "Each of these young women and men have demonstrated a talent for academics and leadership throughout their successful careers as student-athletes. We are proud to award them one of the Atlantic 10's most prestigious honors to assist with their postgraduate education."
The class is comprised of 12 female and two male student-athletes, representing seven different sports with an average GPA of 3.744. The process involves the league's athletic directors, senior woman administrators and faculty athletic representatives.
In each of the last five years, the average GPA of the honorees for the Postgraduate Scholarship Program has been 3.70 or higher. The program, which began honoring two student-athletes in 1991, has been so successful and well-received by both the recipients and the A-10 member institutions that it has expanded several times. The most recent expansion, which was adopted in January of 2015 and implemented that spring, now includes one representative from each A-10 school.
To be considered for the Postgraduate Scholarship, student-athletes must have performed with distinction both in the classroom and in their respective sports throughout their career, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community. The postgraduate program expanded to four recipients in 1997 and then grew to 10 in 2014.
The Postgraduate Scholarship Program is part of the conference's broad-based commitment to student-athlete opportunities and academics. The conference consistently ranks at the top amongst all Division I Conferences in both Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and the Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released by the NCAA.
Commemorating the creation of the Clarence Sapienza Memorial Scholarship are (from left) Mike Sapienza, Myrle Sapienza, Jackie Sapienza and Illinois Valley Community College President Jerry Corcoran.
An elementary education scholarship has been established with the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation in memory of longtime educator and World War II veteran Clarence Sapienza, of Peru.
Clarence's widow, Myrle, with his son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Jackie, of Peru, established the scholarship, which will award $1,000 to a full-time elementary education major who has graduated from La Salle-Peru High School, St. Bede Academy or Putnam County High School.
Clarence died April 14 at age 99. A graduate of LPHS, he earned a teacher's certificate from La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College in 1940 and bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Bradley University. He was a teacher, principal and retired as superintendent of Oglesby Public Schools.
Before beginning his teaching career at Sprinkleburg School, a one-room schoolhouse in Putnam County, Sapienza served in World War II for the U.S. Eighth Army Air Corps as a belly gunner on a B-17 bomber.
"It is a privilege to work with the Sapienzas to honor Clarence's remarkable life," said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran. "Clarence represented the 'Greatest Generation' - the men and women who lived through the Depression, fought so bravely in World War II and went on to live meaningful lives."
The scholarship will be awarded for the first time at the Aug. 29 scholarship reception in IVCC's gymnasium. There, the recipient may have an opportunity to meet Myrle, who was married to Clarence for 76 years.
"My father had a deep love of God and country," said Mike Sapienza. "He would be happy knowing we are assisting future teachers in this way."
To create a scholarship with the IVCC Foundation, contact Fran Brolley at 815-224-0466 or fran_brolley@ivcc.edu.
Ellie Eccleston (left) won the fourth Richard J. Berry Returning Graduate award, and Samantha Goerne is the 2019 winner of the Richard J. Berry Scholarship.Marie Jensen received the highest monetary award at Streator High School's annual scholarship awards banquet, receiving the $20,000 Rose Boyd Gochanour Scholarship. The award pays $5,000 each year over four years of college.Students receiving $6,000 or more at the Streator High School awards banquet are (front, from left) Elizabeth Krasnican, Eden Bruhns and Millie Dean; (back, from left) Blake Rowe, Marie Jensen, Samantha Goerne and Spencer Melvin.
Streator High School students were awarded more than $200,000 in 81 scholarships at the 39th annual awards banquet May 8 at the high school commons.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Superintendent Matt Seaton imparted words of wisdom to the soon-to-be graduates, stressing they should be nice, courteous, helpful and professional in their future endeavors. Seaton stressed the importance of remembering where students come from, to be appreciative of those who established and support the scholarships students received and to consider coming back and giving back to the community from which they came.
Members of the Streator High School Board of Education, the Streator High School Educational Foundation and high school administration were acknowledged prior to the ceremony. Principal Amy Jo Mascal, along with Brad Brittin, served as mistress and master of ceremonies for the evening.
This year, seven students took home over $6,000 to assist them in continuing their education.
The largest amount given to one student was $20,000, which was awarded to Marie Jensen. This award is given in honor of Rose Boyd Gochanour for a student seeking a degree in education. The student is awarded $5,000 per each year of college for four years.
A highlight of the evening was the awarding of the fourth Richard J. Berry Returning Graduate Award to 2008 alumna Ellie Eccleston. Established by Rebecca Berry to honor her late husband, the award worth $10,000 is given to a Streator High graduate choosing to return to Streator to live and work. Eccleston graduated from SHS in 2008, then went to Western Illinois University where she graduated in 2012. After moving back to Streator in 2012, she has been working at Streator Unlimited. Eccleston is active at Central Church of Christ, where she is the Youth Sponsor. She is also on the Streator YMCA board.
The returning Streator High School Graduate award honors Richard J. Berry, a 1970 Streator High graduate. He attended Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1974. He graduated law school at Notre Dame University in 1977, then returned to Streator, where he was born and raised, to serve as partner and trial attorney in the law firm of Myers, Berry, O'Connor & Kuzma Ltd. Berry served as co-founder and tournament director of the City Golf Championships Tournament from 1980 to 2006. He died Dec. 16, 2009.
Past "returning graduate" award winners include Theresa Solon, Logan Pflibsen and Kristina McCormick.
Rebecca Berry also established a $5,000 scholarship for a Streator High senior, given to one graduating student each year. Samantha Goerne received the award in its ninth year.
During the scholarship presentations, welding students Warren Krohe and Olivia Perez each received a special gift of welding equipment provided by Robert Dieken. This was in addition to these students being awarded the Dieken Welding Scholarship.
Seniors receiving awards with totals of $6,000 and higher were Eden Bruhns, Millie Dean, Samantha Goerne, Marie Jensen, Elizabeth Krasnican, Blake Rowe and Spencer Melvin.
Scholarship recipients for 2019 include the following:
Ben Newton Memorial: James McGurk, Trevor Sember ($1,000 each)
Brett Stone: Blake Rowe ($4,000)
Class of 1959: Samantha Goerne, Cali Rogers ($1,000 each)
Class of 1966: Bianca Berryhill ($2,000); Eden Bruhns, Alexis Missel ($1,000 each)
Class of 1967: Amber Ingram (Special Education - $1,000); Makayla Kendall, Jaden Durbin (Trades - $750 each)
Class of 1964: Trevor Sember ($1,000)
Dieken Nursing: Holly Hoang, Tessa McClellan, Laura Preidis, Adriana Villalobos-Martinez, Margaret Wakeman ($1,000 each upon completion of first year; eligible for additional $1,000 each upon Nursing Program completion)
Six Guyer High School seniors - dubbed the "Spectacular Six" - have earned a combined $1.5 million in scholarship money to attend service academies or colleges with ROTC units this fall, according to Denton ISD.
Ashlyn Clark, Jessica Gamsjager, Cassidy Jester, Kaitlin Koralewski, Madison Miller and Aris Quiroz are graduating Friday morning with bright futures and an unprecedented amount of scholarship funds, according to a Denton ISD news release.
Clark earned a Type 2 U.S. Air Force Scholarship valued over $200,000 with college matching money, according to the news release. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and major in biomedical engineering. When she graduates from college with a Bachelor of Science degree, she'll be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and will have a job solving technical problems of the highest caliber for the United States Department of Defense.
"I come from a lower middle-class family and college is very expensive," Clark said. "While there is financial aid, often times it doesn't cover the full extent of what college is going to be and college debt is a serious issue and so with the ROTC scholarship, it definitely helps me get ahead of the game and not go into debt and have to structure my adult life around student loans."
Gamsjager and Jester will be attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy. More than 2,200 applicants applied, and Gamsjager and Jester were two of only 280 appointees selected. Both will earn scholarships valued at $265,000 apiece to attend the USMMA, one of the more rigorous collegiate academic programs in the country. Both will spend one year of their college experience working on ships at sea.
"Back in middle school, I asked my parents - did you put any money away for my college?" Gamsjager said. "They said, no, we expect you to get scholarships, I knew I really needed to figure out how scholarships work and how I can provide for myself."
Miller is receiving an Army ROTC scholarship to attend Texas A&M valued at $102,000. She plans to become a member of the Corps of Cadets and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Upon college graduation, Miller will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
"I come from a Texas A&M family; I have two brothers and my mom is a single mom," Miller said. "My mom put herself through college with us as little kids and just knowing she had that drive, and that passion to be able to complete her education inspired me. I just knew that this is what I want to do. No matter what happens, I'm going to make it through college. After I knew what I wanted to do, I just needed to find a way to pay for it. I'm excited to be in the Army!"
For Koralewski, the past four years in JROTC have been all about pursuing her dream of flying a military aircraft. Nearly 14,000 high school seniors applied for admission to the United States Air Force Academy and Kaitlin was one of 1,350 to receive an offer.
"I got a Falcon Foundation scholarship which is basically USAFA grads pay for about 75% of your first year at a prep school. So, I'm going to be going to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico and I'm going to prep for a year," Koralewski said. "In five years, I hope to have graduated from the Air Force Academy and my passion is to fly for the United States Air Force and so whatever it takes to get there, that's what I'm going to do."
After graduation from NMMI, Koralewski will follow on with admission to the United States Air Force Academy where she will join a select group of students that will train to be future leaders in the United States Air Force. Once she graduates from the US Air Force Academy, she will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in her choice of 32 majors ranging from political science to aeronautical engineering. She will also be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force, an appointment valued at $435,000.
Quiroz competed against 15,000 high school seniors, and less than 8% of the applicants were awarded scholarships through the Air Force. She will use the scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University where she will major in Biology. Upon graduation from college, she will earn a Bachelor of Science degree and be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where she plans to become a weapons systems operator on an F-15E Strike Eagle. The total value of Quiroz's scholarship $115,500.
"I knew that college was super important if I wanted to have a successful life and just be able to not worry about money like my parents had to," said Quiroz. "Getting this scholarship was an amazing opportunity just to prove to myself that I can achieve something like that. So, this opportunity was just perfect for me and just not having to worry about money and take that stress off my parents and myself and it's just a great opportunity and I'm super excited to go to Air Force."
The seniors credit their time in the JROTC as the catalyst and the key element that propelled them to such bright futures.
"When I joined, I just got super involved and did everything that I could," said Quiroz. "I did all the community service, all the drill team stuff, all the color guard stuff just so that I could get as much experiences as possible. Through that I realized that wow, I love the Air Force, I love the military. This is the path I want to go on. I want to be a leader and I want to influence people. ROTC really helped me grow into that and when I found out about the scholarships I was like, this is just a win, win, win situation."
ALTON - Alton High's Jayla Fox-Wallace has been a diligent worker in the classroom and the basketball court and that hard work paid dividends. Fox signed with Southwestern Illinois Junior College (SWIC) in Belleville, which achieved her dream of playing collegiate basketball.
Fox was the point-guard on the Redbirds' girls basketball varsity team for three years. She also played volleyball for two years and was a member of the high school track and field team all four years.
"Everything has been basketball for me," she said. "I played high school, I have done summer camps, open gyms and the SWIC coach saw me play at AAU. He asked 'Are you interested in playing college ball?' I said I was and he said they were very interested in me playing. I didn't want to stop playing basketball after high school. I hope to also play at a four-year college after this."
Fox was a brilliant student, carrying a 3.9 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. She wants to study journalism in the future and her ultimate goal is to work in TV sports broadcasting. She said today, there are a lot of opportunities for females in TV broadcasting and that is her ultimate hope.
Jayla's parents are Candice and Germaine Wallace.
She said she loved her experience at Alton High School and one of her greatest honors there was being a scholar-athlete and a 110-percent award recipient her senior year.
"I definitely enjoyed my experience at Alton High School," she said.
If you have a news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and on Twitter.
Ottawa High School conducted its honors program May 8, distributing
236 awards to 106 students. More than $170,000 in total funds was awarded during the event.
The following students were honored for awards and accomplishments:
Cameron Adams: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship
Jacob Ahearn: Bryce Bilyeu Memorial Scholarship, Richard Pope Prize
Samuel Atwood: U.S. Army, enlisted
Morgan Bangert: Illinois State Scholars
Bailey Banks: National Merit Scholarship - Commended Student, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, American Assoc Of University Of Women Scholarship, Mary Ewers Fine Arts Scholarship
Savanna Bartelmey: Illinois State Scholars
Dominic Bianchi: Streator Golf Association Scholarship
Taite Billings: Kay Halterman Cosmetology Scholarship
Cory Boe: U.S. Army - Enlisted
James Boe: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Riley Boehler: Illinois State Scholars
Desiree Bowers: Illinois State Scholars, Ottawa Moose Lodge 960 Scholarship, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Patrick Boyd: U.S. Army - Enlisted
Robert Bradish: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, OTHSEA Centennial Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship, Jim Gayan Charitable Service Scholarship, Dick And Carol Janko Entreprenuerial Scholarship
Chloe Bruck: Jim Gayan Charitable Service Scholarship, OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, DoChange Mentor Scholarship, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Daughters Of American Revolution Award, American Association of University Women Scholarship, Delta Kappa Gamma Society Scholarship, Ottawa Zonta Scholarship, Ali Stevenson Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship
John Bruner: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Kaylee Burgwald: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Roger and June Rowe Memorial Scholarship
Kiley Carrigan: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars
Hannah Chavez: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Ronald (RJ) Cherry: FFA Nelson Lifetime Alumni Scholarship
Alexis Clark: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, Ottawa Woman's Club Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Cassandra Claus: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Future Advocate: Peter F. Ferracuti Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars
Mia Contreras: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Ashleigh Cox: Illinois State Scholars
Leah Cox: Illinois State Scholars, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Vactor Manufacturing Scholarship, Frank X Yackley Foreign Language Award - Spanish, Jerry Bretag Memorial Scholarship, Richard H. Donnocker Memorial Scholarship, Miami University Merit Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship
Sydney Craig: Bausch And Lomb Science Award
Kaedon Cronkright: OTHSEA Centennial Scholarship
Caleb Decker: Illinois State Scholars
Aaron Dillon: OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Ryan Durango: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars
Antonia Edwards Froisland: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Aaron M. Rick Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship, Jim Sutherland - Booster Club Award
Kaitlin Falaney: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Bob Raudonis Soccer Scholarship
Talon Gay: Illinois State Scholars, Frank X Yackley Foreign Language Award - German
Sloan Gayan: Val Van Der Meer Award - Booster Club Award, Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award
Noah Gould: Illinois State Scholars, OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Alicia Graham: Florence Scherer Brunner Achievement in Writing Award,
Ashley Graham: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Kay Halterman Cosmetology Scholarship
Julia Gromm: Illinois State Scholars, Sons of Norway Lodge Scholarship, Ottawa Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship
Kekoa Gross: Illinois State Scholars, Sons of American Revolution Award, Regional Office of Education Student Excellence Award, Ottawa American Legion Scholarship, Air Force Academy Cadet, Candy Bernardini Spirit Award - Booster Club
Kyle Haerle: Illinois State Scholars, Jim Sutherland - Booster Club Award
Kerrigan Hagi: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Hannah Hagrelius: Illinois State Scholars
Jenna Hall: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Andrew Hancock: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Air Force Academy Cadet
Molly Harris: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Ottawa Noon Rotary Scholarship, Ryan Nevins Legacy Award - Booster Club Award, Harold L. Clemens Ii Memorial Scholarship, Aileen Kozsdiy Memorial Scholarship, Jim Sutherland - Booster Club Award, Senior Letterman - Booster Club Award
Devin Harsh: U.S. Army - enlisted
Carly Henson: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship
Jaken Hicks: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Centennial Honors Scholarship - WIU, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship, La Salle County Exelon Nuclear Station Scholarship
Bailee Hubbard: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, DoChange Mentor Scholarship, Kate Rowe Wielgopolan Memorial Scholarship, Betty Hibbs Schott & Robert K. Schott Scholarship, Ali Stevenson Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Robert O. Lewis Memorial Scholarship, Onyx Scholarship, Don E. Morehead Scholarship, Zonta International - Young Women In Public Affairs
Bergen Johnson: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, OTHSEA Centennial Scholarship, Vickie Hess Elementary Education Memorial Scholarship, Jim Gayan Charitable Service Scholarship, Jerry Bretag Memorial Scholarship
Carrie Kenneday: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Kathryn Krafft: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, Gil Love Scholarship
Keegan Landers: Booster Club Scholarship
Katelynn Leix: FFA Alumni Award
Gorge Leon: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship,
Grace Lowe: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship,
Benjamin Lundy: Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award, Booster Club Scholarship, Jim Sutherland - Booster Club Award, Senior Letterman - Booster Club Award
Elizabeth Martinez: OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Rich Roberts Memorial Scholarship
Ashly Mauk: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Bud Sand Memorial Scholarship
Erica McCain: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Declan McGettigan: Ottawa Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship
Matthew Mezel: Booster Club Scholarship
Zoe Miller: Candy Bernardini Spirit Award - Booster Club Award
Emily Misener: FFA Alumni Award
Tyler Olesen: OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Illinois State Scholars, OTHSEA Centennial Scholarship
Mackenzie Olson: WIU All-state Award for Excellence in Music, Mary Ewers Fine Arts Scholarship
Megan Orsini: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Ottawa Sunrise Rotary Scholarship, Financial Plus Credit Union Scholarship, US Silica Scholarship
Nolan Perry: U.S. Navy - enlisted, Senior Letterman - Booster Club Award
Hanna Pohar: Roosevelt University Musical Scholarship Award
Madelon Porter: Booster Club Scholarship
Madolyn Pratt: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Masonic Healthcare Scholarship,
Evan Prusynski: Bud Sand Memorial Scholarship
Emelia Reinhardt: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Bryce Reinmann: Don Stevenson Scholarship
Leah Repko: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Kayla Rudnicky: U.S. Army - enlisted
Bradley Ruger: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Jacob Schrik: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Madison Sealley: Illinois State Scholars
Marcos Serna: Senior Letterman - Booster Club Award
Andrew Shreve: Booster Club Scholarship
Gauge Smith: U.S. Navy - enlisted, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Madilyn Smith: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Brody Snook: OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, National Merit Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Aces - Academic Competition, US Silica Scholarship, Dean Cashman Engineering Scholarship, William J. Reagan Chemistry/Fine Arts Award, Kerry Condron "A Good Life" Scholarship, National Merit Scholarship - Commended Student, Il Council of Teachers of Math Award
Alexis Sommer: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Bob Raudonis Soccer Scholarship
Nicholas Stehl: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Ottawa/Naplate Hospitality Assocation Scholarship
Alayna Stumpf: OTHSEA Centennial Scholarship
Payton Swartzmiller: Illinois State Scholars
Kyle Szewczuk: Aces - Academic Competition
Natalie Tabor: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars, Catholic Daughters Of America Scholarship, Ottawa Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship, Alexander and Verginia Scherer Ed Scholarship, Richard H. Donnocker Memorial Scholarship, Booster Club Scholarship
Noah Taylor: OTHS Foundation - Senior Leadership Award, Importance of Trades: Peter F. Ferracuti Scholarship
Leah Thorsen: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Avery Timmons: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars
Madeleine Trolinger: Illinois State Scholars
Erik Vandervelde: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship
Maximillian Vargas: Air Force - enlisted
Peter Walsh: Illinois State Scholars, Miami University Merit Scholarship, Val Van Der Meer Award - Booster Club Award, Booster Club Scholarship
Skylar Wicks: Kay Halterman Cosmetology Scholarship
Kaitlyn Wilson: Phil Schoch Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State Scholars
Teagan Wilson: Illinois State Scholars
Samuel Woodyer: Alexander Guy William Muir Memorial Scholarship
Next month will be the five-year anniversary since Metro Police officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck were ambushed and slain.
In their honor, 10 children of active-duty Metro cops each received a $5,000 scholarship Thursday, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation.
Recipients posed for a photo with their families at Police Memorial Park in the far northwest valley, just before the annual Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service commenced.
The grants, provided by businessmen Ron Coury and Don Tamburro, could be used to offset costs of tuition, fees or books, the foundation said.
Soldo and Beck were eating lunch on June 8, 2014, when they were targeted by a pair of anti-government assailants in an east valley pizzeria.
Good Samaritan Joseph Wilcox also was shot and killed when he intervened as the couple made their way through a nearby store.
Callaway High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night at Callaway Stadium as hundreds of local students officially finished the high school chapter of their lives.
Callaway principal Jonathan Laney said the students had more than $1 million in scholarships, not counting Hope Scholarship funding. At least five students in the class were expected to join the military.
Laney took over as principal four years ago, so the 2019 class was the first group of students he got to lead completely through Callaway High School.
"As my first freshmen class, you hold a special place in my heart," Laney said. "Together, we have come so far and tonight I want to express how grateful I am for the time we spent together."
Laney encouraged the class to change the world through small acts of kindness, reminding them that even helping a perfect stranger with a simple task may make a huge difference.
"Acts as simple as saying please and thank you or offering help to a perfect stranger with the smallest of tasks ... small kindnesses such as these have the power to change our world," Laney said.
Salutatorian Kelsey Wessinger began her speech with a little humor.
"I am honored to receive the title of salutatorian," Wessinger said. "I cannot think of a better way to spend my last days of high school doing anything other than an additional writing assignment."
Valedictorian Juliette Stone told her classmates to let faith drive them through difficult times and to lean on their family - their Callaway family.
"When the going gets tough, lean on your family," Stone said "Not just those in the stands, but those sitting right next to you. We are all a family and will always be supportive of one another."
Stone also told students that she believed all of them would overcome any hardships and become whatever they set their minds to.
"I fully believe we are all going to be what we aspire to be. In fact, the moment of moving forward and reaching toward ultimate goals has never been closer," Stone said. "We have just taken the first step. Right here and now we are beginning the rest of our lives."
There were a total of 201 students in the class and all received their diplomas from Laney and shook hands with Interim Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols. Thursday's graduation was the first to utilize the new jumbotron at Callaway Stadium, allowing parents to see their students receive their diplomas on the video board.At the end of the ceremony, students flipped their tassels to officially become Callaway graduates.
"This morning we were high schoolers," Wessinger said. "Tonight, we are graduates."
"We are the number two high school in the entire nation for the number of scholarships that we give to students," assistant principal Marcia Nelson said. "The 5.4 million doesn't even include those who got full-ride scholarships from Yale and from St. Thomas and from Boston College and from all of those places, so that's really just a portion of what they're getting to go to school."
The honors ceremony reflected the 94 years of tradition. The top 10% of the graduating class represent the honors court. A king and queen were crowned, and they then handed out the honor pins awarded to students in each grade, nine through twelve, for their academic success and good character.
Both assistant principals attribute the impressive number of scholarship money to the generosity of alumni throughout the school's 94 years.
"One of the things that our students talked about at the Whiteside scholarship reception this year," assistant principal Tom Tusken said, "Was their intention of giving back, which you can clearly see reflected in the graduates and former staff members that have given away millions of dollars already. Of course the hope is, at some point, some of these kids come back and continue to fund the education for the kids that come after them."
Nelson said, "They graduate, they have amazing jobs and amazing careers because they got to go to amazing colleges, and they know right off the bat that their plan is to give back to Denfeld, so it's a tradition all around."
GIBSON CITY - Awards and scholarships were presented to graduating senior students at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School during the annual GCMS Awards Day event on May 17:
Valedictorian Award - Allison Heavilin.
Illinois State Scholars - Remi Astronomo, Josh Bleich, Darrin Brown, Gabrielle Dammkoehler, Nathan Garard, Allison Heavilin, Chris Hood, Matt Hunt, Megan Moody, Claire Retherford and Tyler Ricks.
Military Recognition - Adam Oleynichak and Dalton Heavilin.
The Heart of GCMS Scholarship - Ryland Holt.
Red Cross Awards - Jesse Swanson and Jenny Patel.
American Legion Awards - Claire Retherford and Tyler Ricks.
American Legion Honorable Mention - Jenny Patel and Nathan Garard.
Gibson Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Junior Citizen of the Year - Claire Retherford.
Lions Club Awards - Jessica Mueller and Jesse Swanson.
Rotary Interact Member of the Year - Claire Retherford.
Rotary Service Scholarship - Remi Astronomo.
Rotary Reach for the Stars Scholarship - Sydney Funk.
Jake's Boys Scholarships - Hattie Parsons and Jesse Swanson.
John W. Cowell Citizenship Award & Scholarship - Remi Astronomo and Jenny Patel.
Ronald W. Reagan Fellowship Recognition - Nathan Garard.
Dan Cavanaugh Memorial - Remi Astronomo.
David "Moe" Sweet Golf Scholarship - Megan Moody.
Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship - Taylor Marcum.
Ford-Iroquois 4-H Foundation Scholarship - Garrett Wright.
WCIA 2018 Best of the Class - Allison Heavilin.
Parkland Pathways to Illinois Recognition - Darrin Brown and Ashlyn McPherson.
DAR/SAR Recognition - Claire Retherford and Nathan Garard.
Future Teachers of America Award - Shelbie Butler.
Frieda Garber Award - Shelbie Butler.
Phil and Eva Loy Scholarship - Jesse Swanson.
Elmo and LaVerne Meiners Scholarship - Jessica Mueller and Ashlyn McPherson.
Women's Western Golf Foundation Scholarship - Megan Moody.
Jeff Selleck Memorial Scholarship - Ashlyn McPherson.
Bank of Gibson City Student of the Month Awards - Graham Voelker, Claire Retherford, Tyler Ricks, Adam Conway, Jenny Patel, Nathan Garard, Ryland Holt, Makenzie Bielfeldt and Josh Bleich.
Bank of Gibson City Student of the Year Award - Claire Retherford.
Millikin University Merit, Leadership & Talent Scholarship - Shannon Spangler.
Northwest Missouri State University's Academic Excellence and Bearcat Advantage Scholarship - Delanie Dykes.
Gibson Area Hospital Auxiliary Scholarships - Jenny Patel, Allison Heavilin and Connor Birky.
IHSA Academic All-State Team Scholarship - Nathan Garard.
GCMS CCC Scholarship - Nathan Garard.
Southern Illinois University Housing Scholarship - Taylor Marcum.
Creighton University Founder's Scholarship, Father Joseph Labaj Award and Roman Shaffer SJ Award and the Patriots Penn Essay Award - Gabby Dammkoehler.
Parkland College Trustees Scholarship - Allison Heavilin.
Macon County Cattleman's Association Scholarship and Illinois Wesleyan
University Alumni Scholarship - Claire Retherford.
When Aaliyah Allen and Roy Webster walked across the stage during graduation exercises at their Memphis high school Saturday, they capped off four sometimes difficult years, spent largely together.
From being leaders in school band - Allen as a drum major, and Roy on the base drums - to struggling to fit in at KIPP Memphis Collegiate High School to being the first of their families to go to college right out of high school, the two of them said they couldn't have made it this far without each other.
But even with their diplomas in hand, their journey together is far from over: Roy, KIPP's valedictorian, and Aaliyah, the senior class president, are both headed to Washington University in St. Louis on scholarships that will cover the full cost of tuition and allow them to study abroad. Roy wants to study mechanical engineering, and Aaliyah plans to enter the school's Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology program.
"It's hilarious to me that we're going to the same place," said Aaliyah in an interview a week before graduation. "We didn't plan this."
She added: "I think I'm stuck with him for the rest of my life."
Roy didn't get into his first choice of Cornell University and said with a wink that he had to "settle" for Washington University. (Washington University is highly competitive college that accepts just 14 percent of applicants.)
"You don't know how lucky you are," Aaliyah said, in turn with an eye roll.
"I'd always said I wanted to go to college but it's not something everyone always thought I could really do," Aaliyah said, noting she was overwhelmed at first by the daunting task of balancing her studies, band, and the college application process.
But her school counselors pushed her, she said, and it helped that Roy was also college-bound.
Roy's family immigrated to Memphis from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago when he was 5 years old, and throughout much of his schooling, he struggled to form deep connections with other students - until, that is, he met Aaliyah in a freshman honors algebra course and the two became close friends.
Like all of their classmates, Aaliyah and Roy were a part of the KIPP Through College program, which helps students with college visits and scholarship applications and provides direction on what colleges best fit them. In their class of 66 students, 61% are headed to four-year colleges.
The Houston-based KIPP charter network, which runs seven schools in Memphis, markets itself as a place that will help get its students to and through college.
Nationally, about 20 percent of college students come from low-income families, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of those who attend KIPP High School, including Aaliyah and Roy, come from low-income families.
Roy and Aaliyah said they know finishing college won't be easy, just like navigating the application process was new and hard. But they have some sense of what's ahead since both students spent part of the summer between junior and senior years on college campuses.
"That [summer] really gave me the confidence to leave this place and get more out of my comfort zone," said Aaliyah, who spent a few weeks that summer at Davidson College in North Carolina, thanks to a KIPP partnership. Roy spent his summer at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
Over the past several years, KIPP's national leaders have focused on increasing college completion rates after a 2011 report found that 31 percent of early-generation KIPP middle school students graduated from (four-year) colleges within six years. (KIPP created a "college persistence fund" that provide small, emergency grants to help its graduates pay for college.)
In Memphis, of the 82 students in KIPP's first graduating class, in 2015, 66 students went on to college. About 62 percent of those students have completed their degree or are still actively enrolled, said Richard Bailey, director of Memphis' KIPP through College program.
Roy said he felt prepared to start and finish college, but when it gets hard, he's thankful to know Aaliyah won't be far away.
"I feel like so much of adjusting to college is all the social stuff, I've never been great at that, but I think I'll be better in college," Roy said. "It helps to have a friend who has already stuck with you through so much."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 42 University Academy students who graduated Thursday earned a record $12.4 million in college scholarships.
It eclipsed the previous record for the Kansas City public charter school of $7.1 million.
From the minute Kindergartners enter the halls of University Academy lined with pennants of the universities graduates have attended, they're reminded of the goal. After all, it's in the school's name.
"We have to make sure they are ready for college. One of the joys of my life is to have kids come back and say why did you scare us like that? College is easy!" University Academy Principal Principal Dr. Clem Ukaoma said.
In a crowd of proud parents, the school`s maintenance man had extra reason to celebrate at Thursday's graduation.
"It`s overwhelming just seeing my daughter graduate now and going to Harvard," Joardy Looney said.
His daughter, the salutatorian and Student Council president, is one of three grads this year accepted into prestigious Ivy League colleges.
"Harvard and so many other colleges want to be inclusive as possible but so many people have a stigma they only want a certain type of person," Bernadette Looney said.
Looney's scholarship is worth more than $320,000. She's the first of her nine siblings to go to college.
Kenath Mitchell is heading to one of the nation`s best architecture schools on scholarship, Cornell.
"It's definitely something inspiring to see something you don't see everyday. To see all of my classmates that I've been going to school forever with going to college, I just think people should acknowledge it, to say that anything is possible for anybody," Mitchell said.
"If you focus on the gap, it ends up inadvertently providing a bigger gap. But if you focus on achievement, getting the kids to achieve, invariably they achieve," Ukaoma said.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced the recipients of its 2019 Bright Futures Scholarship Program. In Pittsburgh, a college scholarship was awarded to Aidan Schneider, a senior at North Hills High School and the daughter of Tom and Jodi Schneider. She plans to attend Penn State - University Park.
"We are proud to present Aidan with a Bright Futures college scholarship in recognition of her academic accomplishments," said Jenny Lewis, vice president of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation. "We wish her the best as she pursues her dreams in higher education."
Marking its 27thyear, the Bright Futures program is administered by the Kimberly-Clark Foundation and awards college scholarships to children of Kimberly-Clark employees across North America. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, leadership, work experience and involvement in extracurricular activities.
Each scholarship is worth up to $20,000 ($5,000 per year for up to four years) for full-time students studying at accredited colleges and universities. This year, scholarships totaling $920,000 were awarded to 46 students across the United States and Canada. Since its inception, the program has granted over $42 million in scholarships to more than 2,100 students.
The Smith Mountain Arts Council recently awarded $2,000 scholarships to high school students Annie Graninger and Hannah Ayers.
The scholarships will pay $1,000 a year for the first two years of college.
Graninger, an actress, singer and musician, plans to major in theater and musical theater at George Mason University. Ayers, who participates in creative writing and journalism, will attend Hollins University and will major in English and creative writing.
Both students are graduating from Franklin County High School on May 25.
Students applying for SMAC scholarships must demonstrate talent and commitment in the performing, visual or literary arts, and must exhibit academic merit.
Scholarships are available to high school seniors at Franklin County, Gretna, Staunton River high schools, as well as Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy and Christian Heritage Academy. Home school students in those areas also can apply.
Six Guyer High School seniors - dubbed the "Spectacular Six" - have earned a combined $1.5 million in scholarship money to attend service academies or colleges with ROTC units this fall, according to Denton ISD.
Ashlyn Clark, Jessica Gamsjager, Cassidy Jester, Kaitlin Koralewski, Madison Miller and Aris Quiroz are graduating Friday morning with bright futures and an unprecedented amount of scholarship funds, according to a Denton ISD news release.
Clark earned a Type 2 U.S. Air Force Scholarship valued over $200,000 with college matching money, according to the news release. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and major in biomedical engineering. When she graduates from college with a Bachelor of Science degree, she'll be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and will have a job solving technical problems of the highest caliber for the United States Department of Defense.
"I come from a lower middle-class family and college is very expensive," Clark said. "While there is financial aid, often times it doesn't cover the full extent of what college is going to be and college debt is a serious issue and so with the ROTC scholarship, it definitely helps me get ahead of the game and not go into debt and have to structure my adult life around student loans."
Gamsjager and Jester will be attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy. More than 2,200 applicants applied, and Gamsjager and Jester were two of only 280 appointees selected. Both will earn scholarships valued at $265,000 apiece to attend the USMMA, one of the more rigorous collegiate academic programs in the country. Both will spend one year of their college experience working on ships at sea.
"Back in middle school, I asked my parents - did you put any money away for my college?" Gamsjager said. "They said, no, we expect you to get scholarships, I knew I really needed to figure out how scholarships work and how I can provide for myself."
Miller is receiving an Army ROTC scholarship to attend Texas A&M valued at $102,000. She plans to become a member of the Corps of Cadets and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Upon college graduation, Miller will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
"I come from a Texas A&M family; I have two brothers and my mom is a single mom," Miller said. "My mom put herself through college with us as little kids and just knowing she had that drive, and that passion to be able to complete her education inspired me. I just knew that this is what I want to do. No matter what happens, I'm going to make it through college. After I knew what I wanted to do, I just needed to find a way to pay for it. I'm excited to be in the Army!"
For Koralewski, the past four years in JROTC have been all about pursuing her dream of flying a military aircraft. Nearly 14,000 high school seniors applied for admission to the United States Air Force Academy and Kaitlin was one of 1,350 to receive an offer.
"I got a Falcon Foundation scholarship which is basically USAFA grads pay for about 75% of your first year at a prep school. So, I'm going to be going to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico and I'm going to prep for a year," Koralewski said. "In five years, I hope to have graduated from the Air Force Academy and my passion is to fly for the United States Air Force and so whatever it takes to get there, that's what I'm going to do."
After graduation from NMMI, Koralewski will follow on with admission to the United States Air Force Academy where she will join a select group of students that will train to be future leaders in the United States Air Force. Once she graduates from the US Air Force Academy, she will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in her choice of 32 majors ranging from political science to aeronautical engineering. She will also be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force, an appointment valued at $435,000.
Quiroz competed against 15,000 high school seniors, and less than 8% of the applicants were awarded scholarships through the Air Force. She will use the scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University where she will major in Biology. Upon graduation from college, she will earn a Bachelor of Science degree and be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where she plans to become a weapons systems operator on an F-15E Strike Eagle. The total value of Quiroz's scholarship $115,500.
"I knew that college was super important if I wanted to have a successful life and just be able to not worry about money like my parents had to," said Quiroz. "Getting this scholarship was an amazing opportunity just to prove to myself that I can achieve something like that. So, this opportunity was just perfect for me and just not having to worry about money and take that stress off my parents and myself and it's just a great opportunity and I'm super excited to go to Air Force."
The seniors credit their time in the JROTC as the catalyst and the key element that propelled them to such bright futures.
"When I joined, I just got super involved and did everything that I could," said Quiroz. "I did all the community service, all the drill team stuff, all the color guard stuff just so that I could get as much experiences as possible. Through that I realized that wow, I love the Air Force, I love the military. This is the path I want to go on. I want to be a leader and I want to influence people. ROTC really helped me grow into that and when I found out about the scholarships I was like, this is just a win, win, win situation."
To find out more about the scholarship opportunities available for studying at University of Georgia, Terry School of Business, we spoke to the school's director of admissions Deirdre M. Kane (pictured above).
What scholarships do you offer?
We offer both graduate assistantships and scholarships for each year of the program. A graduate assistantship includes a full tuition waiver, healthcare premium discount, and a monthly stipend for the academic year.
Our scholarships range from $5,000-$25,000 per year. Merit aid decisions are based on an evaluation of each candidate's undergraduate achievements, quality of work experience and GMAT/GRE score.
We offer an assistantship to almost every candidate we admit and that can be combined with additional scholarship funding for qualified candidates.
What is the scholarship cycle and when should I apply for scholarships?
Everyone is automatically considered for merit aid and it is awarded during all five rounds.
Does your school offer additional financial aid in terms of grants/loans outside federal help?
The University Office of Student Financial Aid works with domestic students who seek need-based funding. We do not provide advice on loan options.
If a student doesn't receive a scholarship or funding, what advice do you have for them to still pursue their MBA?
Look for external funding options - fellowships, scholarships and such offered by non-profit organizations and others.
Beyond scholarships, what other sources of funding are available?
There are graduate assistantships open to incoming MBA students, which are awarded at the time of acceptance and will assign you to work with a Terry College faculty member or program office.
There are also many other assistantships opportunities at the university which you can apply for in your first or second year, with the Small Business Development Center, the Archway Partnership, the Office of Global Education, and many others.
External assistantships provide the same amount of compensation as those at Terry.
For over a decade, the Fort Bend Junior Service League has awarded college scholarships to deserving teen and women residents of Fort Bend County who desire to further their education.
For 2019, FBJSL presented Elizabeth Lamb, Lauren Yang, Jazmine Perez, and Raney Harris each a Volunteer Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for their outstanding volunteer efforts. FBJSL also presented Brittany Taylor the New Beginnings Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 for her dedication and desire to further her education. The recipients were chosen from a highly qualified pool of applicants. The winners stood out among the other candidates as leaders in their schools and volunteer efforts.
Lamb is a senior at Travis High School. She is co-captain of the varsity cheerleading team, and a 2-year member of the National Honor Society. She is a principal dancer at Ballet Forte where she has performed in "Nutcracker" for nine years and was recently the lead in the production "Coppelia." She has won various awards in numerous dance competitions in her 15 years of dancing. Elizabeth has accumulated over 550 volunteer hours through BalletFortes Community Outreach Projects, United Methodist Action Reachout Mission by Youth, and other local organizations. She has committed to Louisiana State University.
Yang is valedictorian at Dulles High School. She has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations, including the Congressional Youth Advisor Council, Advisory Board of 1000 Dreams Fund, FBISD Math and Science Academy Student Council, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society), and National Art Honor Society. She has received dozens of awards in academics, community service, art, piano, pageantry and creative writing. She has accumulated over 1,131 hours of volunteerism: 600 hours with Girl UP - United Nations Foundation Campaign, 223 hours with We Care Student Organization (which she co-founded), and 144 hours as the Volunteer Group Leader at Benavidez Elementary School Pen Pal and Mentor Program. Her volunteer experiences have motivated her to pursue a law degree at Harvard University.
Perez is a senior at Hightower High School. She is captain of the varsity soccer team, director of the Youth Group at Soldiers of Christ, vice president of the Medical Academy, a Fort Bend Academy Leadership Cadre and a member of the Health Occupation Students of American and UNICEF. Her awards include 4 years of academic excellence, the Hildred Jones Drain Community Service Award, and she was placed in Future Business Leaders of America Competition in the Health Care Administration Event. Perez has volunteered over 420 hours at Mutts and Meows Rescue, Soldiers of Christ Youth Group, St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, and The Chosen Young Adult Group.
Harriss is a senior at George Ranch High School. She has served in leadership roles for several organizations, including the National Honor Society (President), Girl Scouts, Book Buddies (Founder/President), Spanish Honor Society, National Charity League, Student Council, Club Volleyball, Principal Advisory Council, and AP Ambassadors. She also also received numerous awards, including the National Charity League's Service Award, Modelette Award, and Mother-Daughter Award, as well as the Service Chord award. Raneyhas volunteered over 288 hours, primarily at Attack Poverty, as well as Book Buddies, The Bridge Fellowship, Parkway United Methodist, Common Threads and Gigi's Playhouse. She has committed to Texas Christian University.
Taylor was awarded the New Beginnings Scholarship. After tragically losing their parents in high school, Brittany and her sisters had to separate and move in with different family members. Not only did she push through to finish two years of high school curriculum in a year through home school, but she did so with straight As. She always wanted to attend college but did not have the funds or marital support to do so. While working as a 911 dispatcher, she nevertheless enrolled in the EMT program at Wharton County Community College. When she and her husband divorced in 2015, however, having no family in the area, she had to quit her job and drop out of school to care for her children. Brittany is still determined, though, and as of last fall, thanks to a small grant and supportive family, was able to re-enroll in the EMT program. Last semester, she achieved a 4.0 GPA. She was recommended for this scholarship by both a sergeant of the Sugar Land Police Department, as well as the Wharton County Junior College EMS Faculty and Lab Coordinator. Upon graduation from the program in August of 2019, she hopes to work as a life flight medic while pursuing a bachelor's of nursing degree so that she may eventually become a flight nurse.
Visit www.fbjsl.org/scholarship-programs for more information.
Two students from Central Magnet School each received a $1,000 college scholarship from the Rutherford County School Resource Officers.
Central Magnet SRO Scott Culp presented the checks to students Sally Smith and Max Larsen Wednesday during an SRO meeting.
SRO Jason Urban said the students were chosen based on their academics, an essay and their extra-curricular activities. This is the 17th year the SROs awarded scholarships.
Sally scored a 33 on her ACT. She is a varsity tennis player at Central Magnet. The senior class voted her the student "Most Likely to be President."
She is a Girl Scout where she earned the Gold Award, the Girl Scout's highest honor. She volunteers at her church.
Sally will attend Kenyon College in Ohio.
Max scored a 30 on his ACT. He is a member of the First Priority Club at Central.
He volunteers at the Smyrna/La Vergne Food Bank and at his church.
Max earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts' highest honor. His Eagle Scout project consisted of volunteering more than70 hours and coordinating 30 volunteers who spent more than 200 hours landscaping Smyrna Primary School.
He will attend MTSU.
Photo: SRO Sgt. Scott Culp presents $1,000 scholarships to Max Larsen, left, and Sally Smith.
The Righetti High School graduate never expected her perfect GPA, work as a tutor, and more than 200 volunteer hours would net her anything more than a spot on the Hancock College dean's list.
On Thursday night, before a crowd of 800 classmates, educators and community members gathered for the Hancock College Foundation's annual scholarship banquet, administrators named the student, Jennifer Cervantes, as the recipient of the Marian Hancock Scholarship, the Foundation's top award.
Given by a 15-member panel of faculty, staff and foundation members, the $10,000 scholarship recognizes the college's most outstanding student each year.
"I never imagined I'd be here," Cervantes said in disbelief, thanking her parents, friends and Hancock College faculty for the two years of support. Bound for either Cal Poly or UC Berkeley this fall, Cervantes reminded her classmates to "keep going and be persistent" if any of them are struggling.
"Wherever you go, you'll make it," she added. "Wherever you want to go, you will get there."
Hancock College Superintendent/President Kevin Walthers commended Cervantes for her hard work, perseverance and success. Faculty members who supported her nomination praised her kindness and determination.
"This is a very special moment for me," said her father, Isidro, who watched from the front row as Cervantes walked on stage to accept her award. "I feel very proud about the praise they gave her as she received her scholarship."
All together, 325 "rising stars" - students like Cervantes, who will either transfer for a four-year college or return to Hancock in the fall - were awarded 433 scholarships worth over half a million dollars. Jon Hooten, the Foundation's executive director, said the ceremony was about much more than just the money students received.
"Look around," he said, pointing to the hundreds of people sitting elbow-to-elbow for what he described as an inter-generational dinner. "This is North County - it's people from Santa Maria, Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley ... all converging here around a shared goal: helping young people advance their hopes and dreams."
District 1 trustee Hilda Zacarias, president of the college board of trustees, told students to celebrate and enjoy the evening. To her, the scholarship is more than a monetary award, but a sign of support from the greater college community.
"This college believes in you," she added. "We see you all as rising stars and we know that great things await."
Keynote speaker Nicolasa Sandoval, education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and member of the state board of education, encouraged the students to continue their path to higher education despite any roadblocks or dead ends.
"Your choice is not an easy one," she told the students. "You will re-arrange many things in your life to stay on this path. There will be hard decisions and struggles. The choice you make to keep going is for you, but also for all of us."
Reach reporter Mathew Burciaga at 805-739-2205 or mburciaga@leecentralcoastnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @mathewburciaga
Darwin medical student and mother of three, Nikki Kastellorizios is this year's recipient of the AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship.
A second-year medical student in the Flinders University NT Medical Program, Ms Kastellorizios has a long-term goal of working as a doctor in remote communities.
"I am a registered nurse and chose to become a doctor as I feel I will have greater influence in making real change towards closing the gap that Indigenous Australians - my people - currently experience," she said when accepting the award.
"Through my encounters accessing health care, and acting as a support person for family members, I have recognised the profound impact people's experiences have on their health choices."
Ms Kastellorizios told Australian Medicine that she could not thank the AMA enough for the scholarship.
"This scholarship helps a lot. It changes my life. It's so very helpful. I'm not sure how to say how grateful I am. I really, really am," she said.
"I have three boys - aged five, four and two. This will help me balance my time. And the money will of course make a big difference. This will help me provide care. Time is something very precious to every med student and it also very precious to every parent.
"I love Darwin. Accessing health services - helping family members to do that and helping community members to do that - is important to me.
"Medicine is something I have always known I was going to do. When it comes to specialist areas, I always say I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
"But I have interests. I really like the idea of working in critical care. And I want to eventually be working in remote areas and being the kind of doctor that I would like my family to meet."
In presenting the award, AMA President Dr Tony Bartone described Ms Kastellorizios as a most deserving recipient of the $10,000-a-year Scholarship.
"Ms Kastellorizios has a clear determination to help improve the lives and health of Indigenous Australians," Dr Bartone said.
"Her dedication and commitment in taking on a medical degree while bringing up three young children is commendable, as is her desire to inspire Indigenous youth to strive for higher education.
"We know that Indigenous people have a greater chance of improved health outcomes when they are treated by Indigenous doctors and health professionals. They are more likely to make and keep appointments when they are confident that they will be treated by someone who understands their culture, their language, and their unique circumstances.
"Ms Kastellorizios will be exactly that kind of doctor."
The AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship was established in 1994 with a contribution from the Commonwealth Government. It provides $10,000 each year for the remainder of the recipient's medical studies.
The BB & A Miller Fund, a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation, funded the 2019 Scholarship.
Chron 44 mins ago Staff Report
