Goshen College announces 10 President's Leadership Award recipients for 2009

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College has awarded the 2009 President's Leadership Award (PLA), the college's top merit scholarship, to 10 college-bound students.

The 2009 PLA selections, who will receive the scholarship upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

Alice Fretz of Lakewood, Colo., daughter of Joe Fretz and Maxine Martin. She is graduating from Green Mountain High School and attends First Mennonite Church of Denver. She is planning on studying biology or environmental science in college.

Erin Helmuth of Elkhart, Ind., daughter of Ray and Sonja Gyori-Helmuth. She is graduating from Bethany Christian High School and attends Prairie Street Mennonite Church. She is planning on studying pre-physical therapy in college.

Kathleen Hooley of Peoria, Ariz., daughter of Tina Yoder. She is graduating from Centennial High School and attends Trinity Mennonite Church. She is undecided about her college major.

Theodore Janney, Jr. of Coopersburg, Pa., son of Ted and Laura Janney. He is graduating after being homeschooled and attends Calvary Bible Fellowship church. He is planning on studying history in college.

Isabella Lowery of Tucson, Ariz., daughter of Andy MacLeod and Felicia Lowery. She is graduating after being homeschooled and attends Shalom Mennonite Fellowship church. She is planning on studying biology in college.

Peter Martin of Goshen, Ind., son of Kendel and Lori Martin. He is graduating from Goshen High School and attends North Goshen Mennonite Church. He is planning on studying nursing or pre-medicine in college.

Constance McKinney of Baltimore, Md., daughter of Karl and Kellie McKinney. She is graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and attends Northern Virginia Mennonite Church. She is planning on studying sociology in college.

Michael Miller of Waterloo, Iowa, son of Byron and Ellen Miller. He is graduating from Cedar Falls High School and attends Cedar Falls Mennonite Church. He is planning on studying computer science in college.

Justin Yoder of Perkasie, Pa., son of Jerold and Beth Yoder. He is graduating from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Salford Mennonite Church. He is planning on studying Spanish and music in college.

Luke Zehr of Tiskilwa, Ill., son of Dennis Zehr and Ellen Davis-Zehr. He is graduating from Princeton High School and attends Willow Springs Mennonite Church. He is planning on studying biology and environmental science in college.

"I congratulate all of the award recipients and applicants for their academic achievements and leadership, and I look forward to welcoming them to campus this fall," said Goshen College President Jim Brenneman. "They will each make significant contributions to our campus, and they will find peers and professors to help them thrive in college and beyond."

The PLA recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in their schools, churches and communities. The award, worth $15,000 per year and $60,000 over four years, is renewable if recipients maintain a 3.5 grade point average during college and contribute 15 hours per semester in a leadership program that is specified by the college president.

The college received 100 applications from prospective students for the PLA. Applicants must meet at least two of the following criteria: earn at least a 1270 on the Enhanced SAT or 29 on the ACT; rank in the top 5 percent of their graduating class; record a grade point average of 3.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale; or be a National Merit Semifinalist.

Each PLA candidate was interviewed in January by a team of two faculty members and a current Goshen College student that had previously been named a PLA recipient. Each applicant wrote an essay, responding to one of three questions, and the essays were scored by two English faculty members. After all of the scoring was complete, a selection committee chose the recipients based on the criteria.

Editors: For more information about this release, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.