Goshen College announces top scholarship recipients for 2015-16

Goshen College has announced the 28 recipients of the school’s top scholarships for 2015-16.

Ten college-bound students are being offered the President’s Leadership Award (PLA), which is the college’s top merit scholarship. The PLA is given in recognition of outstanding academic performance and promise in potential leadership. The award, worth $19,000 per year and renewable for eight semesters, includes participation in an intercultural leadership development program. The award is renewable if recipients maintain a 3.5 grade point average during college and contribute 15 hours per semester in the leadership program.

The 2014 PLA selections, who will receive the scholarship upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

  • Daniel Aramouni, of Manhattan, Kansas, is the son of Fadi and Mary Aramouni. A graduate of Manhattan High School, he plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Spencer Aeschliman, of Salem, Oregon, is the son of Jeffrey and Margaret Aeschliman. A graduate of West Salem High School, he plans to study physics.
  • Anne Buckwalter, of Wellman, Iowa, is the daughter of Tom and Paula Buckwalter. A graduate of Iowa Mennonite School, she plans to study music.
  • Nate Cortas, of Louisville, Kentucky, is the son of Edward and Tricia Cortas and a graduate of Atherton High School.
  • Roxanne Gehring, of Manhattan, Kansas, is the daughter of Richard Gehring and Barbara Krehbiel Gehring, and a graduate of Manhattan High School.
  • Connor Huxman, of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is the son of Jesse Huxman and Susan Schultz Huxman. A graduate of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, he plans to study biology.
  • Anja Kenagy, of Dix Hills, New York, is the daughter of Susan Kenagy and Biene Schaefer. A graduate of Half Hollow Hills High School, she plans to study physics.
  • Megan Mann, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is a daughter of Eric and Jan Mann. A graduate of Chaparral High School, she plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Sage Mijares, of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is the daughter of Timothy Haarman and Laura Mijares. A graduate of Pagosa Springs High School, she plans to study biology.
  • Naomi Peters, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the daughter of Sheila Peters. A graduate of Mennonite Brethren Collegiate, she plans to study music.

Eleven students are being offered the Center for Intercultural and International Education (CIIE) award. The CIIE award is for incoming first-generation Latino students in recognition of leadership potential and commitment to giving back to their community. The scholarship is up to full tuition and is renewable for a total of eight consecutive semesters based on academic performance and program participation.

To qualify for the CIIE Leadership Program, students must be of Hispanic/Latino heritage, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a high school grade point average of 3.0 or above and be entering Goshen College directly from high school. Priority is given to in-state students, though out-of-state students are encouraged to apply as well.

The students who will receive the CIIE Leadership Program awards are:

  • Ana Andriano, of Goshen, is the daughter of Paula Perez. A graduate of Northwood High School, she plans to study nursing.
  • Mikol Aspinwall, of Glendale, Arizona, is the son of Mikol and Gricelda Aspinwall. A graduate of Herberger Young Scholars Academy, he plans to study computer science.
  • Amy Castillo, of Dickinson, Texas, is the daughter of Jose Castillo and Cristina Sanchez. A graduate of Dickinson High School, she plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Jasmine Diaz, of Goshen, is the daughter of Nicteloy and Rafael Diaz. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study chemistry.
  • Johan Escalante, of Orlando, Florida, is the son of Herman Escalante and Jeanette Gonzalez. A graduate of Freedom High School, he plans to study nursing.
  • Yadira Figueroa, of Goshen, is the daughter of Martin and Maria Christina Figueroa, and is a graduate of Northwood High School.
  • Mariana Messick, of Goshen, is the daughter of Hector Castro and Marianita Orozco. She plans to study nursing.
  • Levi De Moya, of Goshen, is the son of Jillian De Moya. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study mathematics.
  • Elda Navarro, of South Bend, Indiana, is the daughter of Francisco Navarro and Ramona Aguilar. A graduate of George Washington High School, she plans to study social work.
  • Jose Ortiz, of Goshen, is the son of Jose Gonzalez and Gloria Ortiz. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study nursing.
  • McKinzi Vega, of Henderson, Nevada, is the daughter of Carol Lattimore and Raymond Vega. A graduate of Rancho High School, she plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.

In addition, six high school seniors are being offered the Stoltzfus Diverse Leader Award, which is awarded to African American, Latino/a American, Asian American and Native American (ALANA) students who have demonstrated a distinguished academic record and significant leadership in activities that promote multicultural awareness in their local communities during high school. The Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship is worth $5,000 per year.

To qualify for the Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship, a student must be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States with a 3.0 or greater grade point average in high school. Students entering college directly after high school are given priority.

The students who will receive the Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship are: 

  • Lydia Beachy, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, is the daughter of Daniel and Tina Beachy. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School, she plans to study social work.
  • Alia Byrd, of Rensselaer, Indiana, is the daughter of Amy Byrd. A graduate of Rensselaer Central High School, she plans to study elementary education/English learners.
  • Michaela Gingerich, of Kalona, Iowa, is the daughter of Dwight and Maureen Gingerich. A graduate of Iowa Mennonite School, she plans to study TESOL.
  • Emma Hernandez, of Goshen, is the daughter of Kenneth and Lourdes Peay. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study environmental science.
  • Nahshon Lora, of Goshen, is the son of Juan Carlos and Nancy Lora, and is a graduate of Bethany Christian High School.
  • Alan Murillo, of Goshen, is the son of Porfirio and Maria Murillo, and is a graduate of Goshen High School.

Three incoming students were offered LEAF Scholarships. The LEAF Scholarship is made possible by a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation. The scholarship will support academically talented first-generation college students that are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The recipients will receive a four-year scholarship of up to $40,000 total and participate in group activities to ensure their academic and professional success. The recipients of the LEAF Scholarships, upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

  • Morgan Catron, of Goshen, is the son of Ricky and Dawn Catron. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study biology.
  • Levi De Moya, of Goshen, is the son of Jillian De Moya. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study mathematics.
  • McKinzi Vega, of Henderson, Nevada, is the daughter of Carol Lattimore and Raymond Vega. A graduate of Rancho high School, she plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.