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Jaiquann Beckham
Radnor, Pennsylvania
I.AM.Scholarship, 2009
In 2009, I was awarded an inaugural I.AM.Scholarship on The Oprah Winfrey Show, from Black Eyed Peas front man Will.I.AM -- and brought in over $400,000 in scholarships to my high school. In my senior year at Christiana High School I was an excellent track and field athlete. Our team GPA was well over a 3.0; through running, we were able to travel to many states to participate in national meets and The Penn Relays. Although we excelled in the classroom and on the track, we did not get the full ride scholarships we were expecting. We were getting acceptance letters from prestigious institutions, but we sadly could not afford to attend these prestigious accredited institutions. Most of my teammates came from single-parent homes, so being able to afford college was not going to be easy, if even possible. We knew we had to go to college, and there had to be a way to get better scholarships. Read More>
Taylor Belcher
Batavia, Ohio
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2008
As a minister, my dad has never made a lot of money. And as a stay-at-home-mother, my mom made even less. However, we were still financially stable enough that government aid would be minimal. I had always assumed I would need to take out a lot of student loans to pay for my college education if I did not receive adequate scholarships, and when my dad left the ministry that seemed even more certain. Read More>
Andrew Benson
Carlsbad, California
Edison International Employees' Children Scholarship, 2009
When I first received the letter in the mail informing me of being selected for the Edison International Employees' Children scholarship, naturally I was thrilled. Years of hard work in school had literally translated into money. And then it struck me that this was an opportunity that I wouldn't have had if my dad wasn't an employee of Edison International, so I became immensely thankful and hugged him on the spur of the moment. As the euphoria settled down, I came to appreciate the fact that my dad hadn't just allowed me to qualify for a technical requirement of the scholarship. Both of my parents had been helping me achieve for the past 18 years. Read More>
Jenna Bortolotti
Milton, Massachusetts
Henry O. Peabody Scholarship, 2007-2010
Studying in Milton's Public School French Immersion program for 11 years taught me acceptance and tolerance. By training me to use my eyes & ears, the program opened my mind and introduced me to some of the world's greatest artists; Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Rembrandt. Art is in my life everyday. I am a hobbyist with a wide range of interests, an eclectic portfolio and the courage to try anything, and my passions have morphed me into an Interior Design student. In class we work on demanding projects for sustained periods of time, experimenting round the clock, working in teams, persevering through frustration, envisioning solutions. Read More>
Tracy Bui
Vista, California
Callaway Golf Scholarship, 2008-2011
The Callaway Scholarship has definitely helped shape my college years. With huge financial burdens, the scholarship gives me much-appreciated breathing room. This scholarship has come through for me in times of great need and has afforded me the allowance and opportunity to not constantly think about my financial status, and focus instead on the opportunities that are available to me.
Brittany Butler
Rowlett, Texas
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2009-2010
Four years ago, when I was starting high school, my mom's diabetes reached a dramatic peak. Her normal routine changed from going to work and taking care of us, to undergoing dialysis three times a week. This was the turning point at which our traditional relationship of mother and daughter began to evolve. As her health needs changed, my role in our relationship began to change to that of a caregiver. I had to adjust my schedule to allow for the additional responsibilities of house keeping and family care, and balance it with my schoolwork. Read More>
Rebecca Campbell
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Medtronic Scholarship, 2007
My scholarship has helped me achieve a dream to study abroad. Last year I signed up to go on a semester study abroad trip to Sydney, Australia to study art and music. It was the opportunity of a lifetime and it came up unexpectedly. I was a junior, and academics at my home campus were not quite what I had hoped they would be. I was ready for a challenge and when this trip came to my attention, I eagerly applied and got in. Little did I know that my school would not offer me any of my academic and athletic scholarships – which added up to a significant portion of my tuition -- to use for the semester abroad. Foruntately, my Medtronic scholarship still applied and helped to cover the cost of the trip. Without it I never would have had the amazing experience I had. Read More>
Iva Chamness
Huntington Beach, California
Humana Foundation Scholarship, 2007
I was an excellent student in high school, as well as an athlete. I was accepted to many prestigious colleges and eventually selected Centre College in Danville, KY. However, although I did very well there academically and also ran track, I ended up transferring to the University of Kentucky to have a different college experience. Since then, I have moved to California and began taking classes there. I have always greatly valued my education, and although my college experience isn't exactly what I planned, there is no way I would have been able to attend college at all if it wasn't for this scholarship. I'm maintaining above a 3.5 and plan to graduate in 2012.
Allison Chasko
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mike Harper Leadership Scholars Award, 2008-2011
My Mike Harper Leadership Scholars Award has allowed me to fulfill my longtime dream of not just going to college to study Spanish, but of studying abroad. I was able to spend the past semester in Valparaiso, Chile, furthering my studies in Spanish and Latin American Studies and gaining a greater appreciation for a culture completely different from my own. The scholarship I received made this valuable opportunity possible, and everything I have learned with surely help me after I graduate. I believe that this scholarship has also helped me to be a better student, because it has allowed me to focus more time on my studies and being involved in other extracurricular activities and academic organizations, rather than stressing too much about the financial burden of paying for college. I am extremely grateful.
Emmeline Colmenares
Houston, Texas
Continental Airlines Scholarshp, 2009
I am the daughter of a retired Continental Airlines employee, and I work as a retail sales representative and a teller at Reliant Stadium. This scholarship is helping me transition from a community college to a four-year university by helping me pay off my college bills. In this economy, I need as much help I can get. My scholarship is a stepping-stone to my goals of graduating with a double major in Business Management and Finance. It has kept me motivated to keep my grades high, make the Honors List, and stay in school to achieve my goals. I believe that anything is possible.
Casey Cram
Marion, Iowa
PepsiCo Foundation ExCEL Award, 2009
In the summer of 2008, I was being a normal teenager: school, sports, work, and friends. I started to get letters from different colleges from all over the state, and one college caught my eye – the same one my older brother was attending and succeeding at. My parents told me to work extra hard that year so I could get some scholarships to help pay for my education, so I worked as hard as I could. In November, I hit a speed bump. I was told by doctors I had a lump on my thyroid and that it could be cancer. Read More>
