Goshen College’s top scholarship recipients named for 2017-18

Goshen College has announced the 48 recipients of the school’s 2017-18 top scholarships for incoming first-year students.

Sixteen 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 $80,000 total ($20,000 per year and renewable for eight semesters), includes participation in an intercultural leadership development program. The award is renewable based on academic performance and the contribution of 15 hours per semester in the leadership program.

The 2017 PLA selections, who will receive the scholarship upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

  • Sirce Arias, of Elkhart, Indiana, will graduate from Elkhart Central High School. She plans to study art.
  • Brandon Charlton, of Romulus, Michigan, will graduate from Taylor Center High School. He plans to study biology.
  • Silas Clymer, of Collinsville, Mississippi, will graduate from Meridian High School. He plans to study physics.
  • Genevieve Cowardin, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, will graduate from Harrisonburg High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Olivia Dalke, of Dallas, Oregon, will graduate from Dallas High School. Her major is still being decided.
  • Paul Drescher, of Goshen, Indiana will graduate from Goshen High School. He plans to study environmental science.
  • Heather Gabel, of Orange City, Iowa, will graduate from MOC-Floyd Valley High School. She plans to study environmental science.
  • Harrison Gingerich, of Hubbard, Oregon, will graduate from Canby High School. He plans to study music.
  • Mariah Gingrich, of Verona, Wisconsin, will graduate from Verona High School. She plans to study Spanish.
  • Autumn Hilton, of Bridgewater, South Dakota, will graduate from Bridgewater-Emery High School. She plans to study elementary education.
  • Abigail Hochstetler, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Bethany Christian High School. Her major is still being decided.
  • Kyra Krall, of Carmel, Indiana will graduate from Carmel High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Nonalisa Lederach, of Clovis, California, will graduate from Floyd B. Buchanan High School. She plans to study history.
  • Laura Miller, of Arlington, Kansas, will graduate from Hutchinson Senior High School. Her major is still being decided.
  • Ian Roth Martin, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will graduate from Lancaster Mennonite High School. He plans to study nursing.
  • Emmalene Rupp, of Apple Creek, Ohio, will graduate from Central Christian High School. She plans to study social work.

Twenty students are being offered the Intercultural Leader Award. The Intercultural Leadership Award is for incoming first-generation students of color who have demonstrated a distinguished academic record, leadership potential and commitment to giving back to their community. The scholarship is for up to $120,000 total ($30,000 a year), and is renewable for a total of eight consecutive semesters based on academic performance and program participation. To qualify for the Intercultural Leadership Award, students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a high school grade point average of 3.0 or above.

The students who will receive the Intercultural Leader Awards upon enrollment at Goshen College are:

  • Ana Avila, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study biology.
  • Dianna Campos, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study art.
  • Ngun Kip “Lily” Chin, of Decatur, Georgia, will graduate from Druid Hills High School. Her major is still being decided.
  • Stephanie Esqueda, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study social work.
  • Tobias Garcia, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. He plans to study business.
  • Kaelynne Gillett, of Euless, Texas, will graduate from Trinity High School. She plans to study American Sign Language Interpreting.
  • Joana Gonzalez, of Sarasota, Florida, will graduate from Sarasota High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Elias Herrera, of Kimmell, Indiana will graduate from West Noble High School. He plans to study accounting.
  • Cynthia Herrera Fernandez, of Goshen, Indiana will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Vianey Latisnere Reinada, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study elementary education.
  • Paulina Medina, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Keyaira Murff, of Indianapolis, Indiana will graduate from Lawrence Central High School. She plans to study biology.
  • Jennifer Navarro, of Elkhart, Indiana, will graduate from Concord High School. She plans to study elementary education.
  • Brandon Nguyen, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Bethany Christian High School. He plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Luis Ramirez, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Concord High School. He plans to study public relations.
  • Amethyst Romo, of Chicago, Illinois, will graduate from Marine Leadership Academy. She plans to study nursing.
  • Dominique Santos, of Lancaster, California, will graduate from Paraclete High School. She plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
  • Jesus Santoyo, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, will graduate from South Side High School. He plans to study nursing.
  • Irving Suarez, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. He plans to study psychology.
  • Jordan Venglass, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, will graduate from Rancho Cucamonga High School. He plans to study biology.

In addition, 12 high school seniors are being offered the Leader of Color Award, which is awarded to students of color (of African-, Hispanic/Latino-, Asian- or Native-American heritage) who have demonstrated a distinguished academic record and significant leadership in activities that promote multicultural awareness in their local communities during high school. The Leader of Color Award is worth $20,000 total ($5,000 per year), and is renewable for a total of eight consecutive semesters based on academic performance and program participation. To qualify for the Leader of Color Award, 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 Leader of Color Award upon enrollment at Goshen College are:

  • Sophia Charlebois-Vergara, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study peace, justice and conflict studies.
  • Priscila Flores, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Goshen High School. She plans to study exercise science.
  • Elizabeth Grossman, of Lagrange, Indiana, will graduate from Prairie Heights High School. She plans to study art.
  • Brittany Hartung, of Saint Louis, Missouri, will graduate from Webster Groves High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Jazmin Hernandez, of South Bend, Indiana, will graduate from John Adams High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Giselle Munoz, of Cromwell, Indiana, will graduate from West Noble High School. She plans to study business.
  • Natan Nafziger, of Goshen, Indiana, will graduate from Bethany Christian High School. He plans to study computer science.
  • Alexis Okamura, of Henderson, Nevada, will graduate from Coronado High School. She plans to study nursing.
  • Lisa Rosado Rivera, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will graduate from Academia Menonita. She plans to study music.
  • Gayatri Salzer, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will graduate from Skyline High School. She plans to study psychology or social work.
  • Khampha Stempel, of Broadway, Virginia, will graduate from Eastern Mennonite High School. He plans to study nursing.
  • Cara Wilson, of Indianapolis, Indiana, will graduate from Pike High School. She plans to study theater and film production.