Fifth Annual Scholarship Competition
The Sonlight Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2004 Sonlight Curriculum College Scholarship Competition. All seven winners will be awarded four-year college scholarships to fund their attendance at the colleges of their choice.
It was extremely difficult for us to choose this year's winners. In fact, it was so difficult this year that we decided to give six applicants $500 one-time honorable mention awards in addition to the normal 4-year scholarships we've awarded to the seven winners.
$5000, 4-Year Scholarship ($20,000 total)
Scott C. McIntosh of Lexington, Kentucky won this year's $5000 scholarship. He plans to major in finance and accounting at the University of Kentucky in order to help him build a rental property business and expand the lawn mowing business he and his brother have run for the past 8 years.
Scott's natural leadership skills and active involvement in the community are inspirational. He has served as a Youth Council representative for his church's youth group, a tutor of underprivileged children, Vice President of the Mars Hill Home School Co-op, team captain of the Mars Hill basketball team, and a missionary to Ayutla, Mexico and Anchorage, Alaska.
Scott writes: "Thank you so much for your curriculum! I have used it for most of my elementary, middle, and high school career and I have learned so much because of it. The books you've had me read have been exceptional and have helped to foster in me a love for learning and for God's Kingdom. My favorites are Cry, the Beloved Country and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (that one was a long time ago...). Thank you for this scholarship program also--I am very excited about this next chapter in my life and all that God has for me in it. May God bless you richly as you continue to grow in your knowledge and love for Him."
Scott C. McIntosh of Lexington, Kentucky won this year's $5000 scholarship. He plans to major in finance and accounting at the University of Kentucky in order to help him build a rental property business and expand the lawn mowing business he and his brother have run for the past 8 years.
$2500, 4-Year Scholarship ($10,000 total)
Peter L. Bouck of Germantown, Tennessee won one of this year's $2500 scholarships. He has a strong interest in linguistics and hopes to one day translate the Bible for isolated peoples who have no written language.
Peter has already put his aptitude for writing to good use as editor of Westminster Academy's yearbook and literary magazine. He has also served as a missionary to Mexico and Brazil, plus he has taught parliamentary procedure and debate to young people as part of the YMCA Youth in Government program.
Peter plans to attend Georgetown University in the fall.
Matthew F. Banner of Conover, North Carolina also won a $2500 scholarship. He plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he will major in computer science.
Matthew has shown exceptional skills in programming and web design. In fact, he's been instrumental in building (and writing for!) The Homeschool Connexion website, an online gathering place "completely for and by homeschooled kids and teens."
In addition to web design, Matthew is also an Eagle Scout who, for his Eagle Project, raised the funds for and constructed a 16' x 20' shelter for Camp Joy.
After he has graduated from college, Matthew hopes to apply his computer skills toward creating Bible translation software or other software that might benefit pastors and missionaries.
Peter L. Bouck of Germantown, Tennessee won one of this year's $2500 scholarships. He has a strong interest in linguistics and hopes to one day translate the Bible for isolated peoples who have no written language.
Matthew F. Banner of Conover, North Carolina also won a $2500 scholarship. He plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he will major in computer science.
$1000, 4-Year Scholarship ($4,000 total)
Rebekah A. Ramsay of Karaganda, Kazakhstan is currently choosing from among eight colleges to pursue a liberal arts degree, possibly in Russian Studies or Foreign Affairs. But, as Rebekah says, "I am open and waiting to see where God will lead."
The daughter of missionaries, Rebekah has been an active member of her church's praise and worship team. Despite the lack of extracurricular activities where she lives, she helped start the MK Theatre Group and has been the main talent behind a number of plays, skits, and videos she and her friends have produced.
Hannah E. Qualls of Moscow, Idaho plans to attend both New Saint Andrews College and the University of Idaho where she will pursue a medical degree.
Hannah has received the Congressional Award Gold Medal for completing four hundred hours of public service. Furthermore, she is a Master Gardener, a member of the Thespian Society, and has performed musical compositions on the radio by select invitation.
What is a Master Gardener, you ask? It's a certification Hannah earned by completing 40 hours of education and 40 hours of volunteer service. To maintain her certification, she has to complete 30 hours of ongoing education and volunteer work per year. Hannah explains: "I identify various weeds, determine diseases, insects, and nutrient problems, and find solutions to the problems people have with their gardens."
Hannah has great compassion for people who are hurting and sick, and feels her calling is to serve as a Physician Assistant in a rural town. She also hopes to marry a godly Christian man and homeschool her own children.
Matthew R. Drwenski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has a passion for politics and history. His experience as a page at the Oklahoma state capital and a world politics course he took at a local college have, in part, inspired him to pursue a degree in political science.
Like Matthew Banner above, Matthew Drwenski is also an Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Project, he raised the funds for and supervised the construction of an archery range for Shiloh Camp, a Christian camp for inner-city children.
Matthew has also displayed ambition and business savvy in his work. He went from a ride operator to the supervisor of The Digital Photo Store at Frontier City amusement park in a short two months.
Though unsure of where he will attend college, Matthew has narrowed his choices to four universities: Rice University, Southwestern University, Trinity University, or Tulsa University.
Samuel R. Smith of Cullman, Alabama is an effective speaker and an established sculptor. In fact, he has received the highest JEWEL (Judging Every Work - Evaluating with Love) awards for oral presentation and art sculpture.
Samuel is also a skilled actor. He and his sister wrote and performed a skit that raised $10,000 for Russia for Christ Summer Camps. He also played the part of a retarded person in another skit for JEWEL that touched one woman so deeply she wrote a letter. In it "she stated she wept through the entire performance and realized how special her child was to the Lord."
In addition to his speaking, sculpting, and acting, Samuel has also dutifully supported Eagle's Wings Ministry, a Christian outreach ministry to native Indians.
Samuel plans to attend Wheaton College or Samford University where he desires to pursue a medical career.
Rebekah A. Ramsay of Karaganda, Kazakhstan is currently choosing from among eight colleges to pursue a liberal arts degree, possibly in Russian Studies or Foreign Affairs. But, as Rebekah says, "I am open and waiting to see where God will lead."
Hannah E. Qualls of Moscow, Idaho plans to attend both New Saint Andrews College and the University of Idaho where she will pursue a medical degree.
Matthew R. Drwenski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has a passion for politics and history. His experience as a page at the Oklahoma state capital and a world politics course he took at a local college have, in part, inspired him to pursue a degree in political science.
Samuel R. Smith of Cullman, Alabama is an effective speaker and an established sculptor. In fact, he has received the highest JEWEL (Judging Every Work - Evaluating with Love) awards for oral presentation and art sculpture.Honorable Mention (one-time $500 awards)
- Lyndsey Rose Gangel of Toccoa Falls, Georgia
- Sarah Haserodt of North Olmsted, Ohio
- Jodie Jonkman of Quito, Ecuador
- Elizabeth Mallory of Anniston, Alabama
- Cameron E. Murphy of Antalya, Turkey
- Kristen Pieper of Rochester Hills, Michigan
Congratulations to all of this year's winners! We are excited for what God will do in and through the lives of these young men and women. We are privileged to play a part, however small, in helping them reach their dreams and goals.
