The 2026 Sonlight Scholarship Winners

Sonlight is committed to partnering with homeschool families to cultivate a lifelong love of learning in their children, from those first curious preschool questions all the way to writing a high school research paper and beyond. This partnership doesn’t end when students graduate from high school. We also want to be there for families as their children pursue their God-given callings and dreams.

That’s why we created the Sonlight College Scholarship. Since the program began, we've awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships to Sonlight graduates pursuing their God-given callings. These awards recognize students for their academic achievements as well as their gifts in service, ministry, leadership, and the arts.

Today, we are honored to introduce our 2026 scholarship recipients. Learn about all nine students, awarded scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $20,000.

Meet Our $20,000 Winner

Christian R. (Ian), of Beavercreek, OH

The youngest of eight children, all homeschooled from an early age with Sonlight, Ian loves that homeschooling with Sonlight has given him a firm foundation for thinking about and entering the world as a light of Christ. Wherever God may place him, Ian desires to be a steady rock that points others to the true Rock of Christ.

His favorite part of homeschooling with Sonlight has been reading the many books and materials Sonlight assigns, not only because he loves reading them, but also because they bring the histories, philosophies, cultures, and accomplishments of people and places all over the world, right to his favorite recliner.

He has also enjoyed homeschooling because it has given him the flexibility to pursue many extracurricular activities, such as co-owning a lawncare company established in 2010 that serves over 25 customers. In addition to co-owning a business, Ian also:

• plays the French horn for a youth orchestra,
• loves sports, as he is on the Varsity soccer and track team, and enjoys disc golf and running,
• enjoys entertaining people with unicycle and juggling routines.

Homeschooling has also given him the flexibility to travel the world with his family, going on 3 multi-week trips and visiting 5 countries.

Ian loves using the gifts God has given him to bless and encourage others and make people smile. He is recognized as:   

• A sought-after handyman who can often be found in the workshop building or fixing things for someone.
• A very experienced cook, as he cooks for large groups to help his family, while they host around 45 college students on many Sundays.
• A creative who loves making beauty out of ordinary things, whether that be plating and garnishing his food, picking flowers from his garden, decorating his desk, or creating art and woodworking projects.

Ian is excited to attend Cedarville University, where he hopes to study industrial and innovative design and to participate in the honors program. He believes that this is the best way to use the gifts God has given him to glorify God and bless those around him.

Meet This Year’s $10,000 Winners

Each of the following students will receive a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year).

Daniel B., of Poy Sippi, WI

Having grown up as a missionary kid in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Daniel has not only been exposed to multiple languages and cultures, but also knows a lot about flexibility and how to share his faith. Speaking four languages and having already visited 20 countries, he feels at home almost anywhere in the world. In addition to his flexibility and love for travel and adventure, he:

• plays multiple instruments,
• writes and records his own music,
• plays hockey as a goalie,
• takes photos while traveling, and
• enjoys just about anything to do with the outdoors.

He also actively joins his family in their mission work:

• leading music for church,
• translating,
• helping at youth and children’s camps,
• teaching Sunday school, and
• sharing the Gospel with friends.

Now, during his senior year of high school, Daniel works at a local recreation center run by Christian Norwegians, where he previously volunteered for 200+ hours. This has enabled him to get his own work visa, allowing him to stay in Mongolia and continue helping his parents until graduation. Throughout his whole life as a missionary kid, Daniel has come to see that across the world, “mission work remains the same: a loving group of family and friends reaching out and sharing Christ’s love through everyday interactions and connections with all they meet.”

In addition to his family’s strong faith and focus on Jesus, his homeschooling curriculum—including 12 cores of Sonlight—has helped create a firm foundation for his faith by encouraging him to ask critical questions and not be afraid to share with others what he knows and believes.

Because of this, he has decided to follow God’s calling to become a pastor and will start that journey by studying Biblical languages and theology at Concordia University in Saint Paul Minnesota. “I am ready to follow wherever [Jesus] leads,” says Daniel, “and I would not be surprised at all if that is right back to Central Asia.”

Brinley G., of Poy Oceanside, CA

While Brinley’s mom once claimed she would never homeschool, God had other plans. Brinley graduated in 2025 as a lifelong homeschooler who used Sonlight for 11 years. Thanks to Sonlight, she has been an avid reader from a young age.

While she can’t choose a favorite book from Sonlight, she’s loved reading missionary stories, historical fiction, and classic novels. She also enjoys history, writing, traveling, and having deep conversations with her family around the dinner table.

Brinley became a Christian at a young age, and throughout her life, she has been deeply involved in her local church:

• serving in children’s ministry,
• playing piano for the high school worship team, and
• founding and co-leading multiple Bible studies among her peers.

For a long time, she didn’t know whether to go to college, but after much consideration, she felt God leading her into the realm of Christian counseling. She is now a freshman in her second semester at California Baptist University, pursuing a double major in psychology and Christian behavioral science to become a marriage and family therapist. Her hope is to use her giftings and values to bridge gaps in mental health care and to offer Christ-centered counseling that brings hope and restoration to those who are hurting.

She loves college and enjoys learning in classroom settings, and she is deeply grateful for the strong Christian community surrounding her. She is involved in several on-campus Bible studies that focus on both being disciples and making disciples. She also has the incredible opportunity to go on a three-week mission trip this summer through her university. Her team will focus on ministering to the Deaf, one of the most unreached people groups in the world, and she is learning ASL and is an active member of her school’s ASL club to raise awareness of Deaf culture.

Brinley is thankful for the ways homeschooling through Sonlight equipped her to thrive in college with a strong biblical foundation and a love of learning, and she looks forward to seeing how God will continue to use her in the years to come.

Bethany R., of Almond, NY

Bethany has been homeschooled since pre-school and has grown up listening to her mom read Sonlight books aloud before bed, a memory that sparked a lifelong love of literature!

The flexibility of homeschooling has allowed her to invest in a variety of extracurricular activities like voice-over, ballet, and theatre. Many of these she has participated in through Family Life Ministries, a Christian radio and outreach ministry committed to spreading the message of hope found in Jesus Christ.

She has participated in many of their musicals and worship concerts, as well as being a member of their original Saturday-morning kids’ radio show. Being involved in this ministry has allowed her to develop her talents while sharing the gospel through the performing arts, an opportunity she is incredibly blessed to have.

Another of Bethany’s favorite pastimes is music. She started playing the piano at age six and has continued ever since. She has performed in many recitals and competitions, as well as accompanying choral groups from local high schools, colleges, and at church. She has served on her church’s worship team since she was 10 years old, and continues to play on lead piano, guitar, voice, or wherever they need her!

When she is not practicing or performing, you can find Bethany:

• baking,
• crocheting,
• reading, or
• styling her hair.

Despite her many talents, Bethany has found that her true passion is to help others. While she has been blessed with a sharp mind and a desire to achieve excellence in her work, she rarely feels more satisfied than when making others feel confident and valued. It is her desire to find a college and career that will equip her to use this passion, along with her many talents, to share the character and love of Christ with others.

Currently, she plans to attend Grove City College, majoring in business administration with a minor in musical theatre. However, her heart remains open for whatever the Lord has planned.

Meet This Year’s $4,000 Winners

Each of the following students will receive $4,000 ($1,000 per year).

Trevor R., of Beavercreek, OH

Trevor grew up in a military family with five siblings and has used Sonlight since he was eight. He has a love of history and devours his favorite literature with enthusiasm. Some of his favorite Sonlight novels include Hero of the Empire, A Night Divided, and The Case for Christ.

Trevor is an avid Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout with a project that honored fallen heroes at the Los Angeles National Cemetery. During his time in the Boy Scouts, Trevor backpacked at Philmont, where he served as Crew Lead for a group of boys hiking 70 miles over 12 days.

He enjoys participating in multiple Bible studies, including leading one online with friends in California. Trevor excels in several sports, including:

• baseball,
• ultimate frisbee,
• track, and
• soccer.

His favorite sport is soccer, and he was privileged to start as a winger on a local Christian varsity soccer team.

Trevor has a great sense of humor and loves to play complex board games. He has learned a variety of different skills while helping fix a multitude of maintenance issues at his church. This included:  

• filling a sinkhole (in 105-degree temperatures!),
• repairing a water well, and
• repaving the parking lot with gravel.

He also worked as an intern for his uncle, where he welded and learned stone veneer work while making industrial-grade signs.

After taking a graphic design class with his co-op, Trevor realized that God had given him a talent for designing. Trevor marvels at the creativity with which God has designed the universe and sees his own inclination towards the beautiful as a reflection of God.

He plans to attend Cedarville University this fall to study industrial design. Trevor is excited about how industrial design combines art and beauty with helping people solve problems; the two things that he enjoys most. He is excited to grow in his faith through the Christian community, the Bible minor, and faculty who will hone his current skills, teach him new ones, and do so while recognizing that his most creative endeavors magnify the ultimate Creator.

Luis M., of São Paulo, Brazil

Luis is grateful for all that homeschooling has provided for his life. The many years of homeschooling shaped his love for reading and writing, allowing him to explore ideas deeply and think critically. Most importantly, it gave him a thirst for learning that continues to guide his academic and personal growth.

Because he was born and raised in a Christian family, he was always involved with church activities. As his understanding of the importance of a healthy community grew, he began to participate more passionately by joining the worship team and using music to serve others.

He also assisted the A/V team before the service, learning responsibility and teamwork. Sonlight’s faith-driven curriculum also encouraged him to take part in two mission trips in Brazil, where he lives. Helping the organization, Athletes in Action, reach out to the poor in spirit deepened his relationship with Christ and strengthened his desire to serve with humility.

The adaptability of the curriculum has allowed him to experience many new activities and to develop different skills. He participated in two plays with his homeschooling community, which created many lasting memories and boosted his confidence in public speaking. His love for sports was also cherished, with practices and tournaments that taught discipline, perseverance, and leadership.

All these opportunities led him to Mackenzie Presbyterian University. There, he started an economics course, hoping to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. He is excited to meet new people, grow intellectually and spiritually, and prays that he can make a difference wherever God places him.

Geneva S., of Dayton, OH  

Genevea has spent her childhood in the Middle East and has been using Sonlight since 1st grade. She is extremely grateful to have had that privilege even overseas. The three things that have been consistent throughout all the transitions in her life include:

• God’s faithfulness,
• her spectacular family, and
• Sonlight books.

Sonlight’s treasure trove of books has instilled in Geneva a love for not only reading, but learning in general. She loves diving deeper into her favorite school subjects, including calculus, physics, chemistry, and economics. She is also constantly engaged in an assortment of hobbies. She has spent hours cultivating skills in baking, crocheting, playing music, programming, and swimming.

Geneva plays piano and violin and has been blessed with many opportunities to use those gifts to serve fellow missionary families in the Middle East, her church, a nursing home, and in her own home. She also plays in a youth orchestra and is extremely thankful for the experience and growth she has cultivated in her years there.

With seven younger siblings, Geneva has been blessed with a lot of firsthand experience caring for young children. After moving back to America a few years ago, Geneva returned to the Middle East for 3 months to serve as a nanny for a missionary family who had recently moved there. She cared for the three little boys during the day while the parents were in language school.

As she looks forward to the years ahead, she is encouraged by God’s righteousness and care. Lord willing, she will study engineering at Cedarville University in the fall.

At some point, she hopes to get married and have children of her own to homeschool. One way she hopes to serve, as she moves forward, is by ministering to international people, whether in other countries or here, in America. As a TCK, she is especially encouraged by interacting with people from other countries and learning about their cultures. She knows the Lord has given her this desire, and she looks forward to the opportunities He will set before her.

Elizabeth C., of Sunbury, OH

Having begun her homeschooling journey at age 4, Elizabeth has been homeschooled with Sonlight ever since—a Sonlighter for every grade level! Throughout her years of school, she has gained a deep love for reading, learning, and creativity. She loves spending time with her family and friends and being outside in nature.

One of Elizabeth’s favorite things is being a part of her church community. She has always had a heart for worship, and she loves to:

• play the piano,
• sing, and
• lead worship regularly at her home church.

She also enjoys being a leader at the middle school youth group, and she serves for Sunday morning kids’ classes and as a childcare leader during the week.

Elizabeth has a passion for figure skating and skates competitively throughout the year. She has medaled in several different competitions and loves to be on the ice whenever she can. She also loves learning about different cultures and had the opportunity to serve on a short-term missions trip to Brazil during her senior year. This experience sparked an excitement for traveling and grew her love for God, others, and God’s beautiful creation.

This past year, Elizabeth has held an intern position at her church, working in worship, youth, kids, and administrative areas. She loves the ministry field and is excited to see where God might lead her in the future.

She also has a passion for writing. She is currently writing a children’s book for kids at her church, and you can often find her deeply engrossed in journaling or writing a new story. She plans to pursue a professional writing degree at Cedarville University and looks forward to seeing how God will use it in her future. Above all, she looks forward to continuing to seek the Lord in everything she does.

Abigail B. of Hollandale, MN

Abigail is extremely grateful and blessed to have been homeschooled with Sonlight curriculum from middle school to graduation. Thanks to the Christ-centered material, she has matured and grown not only academically but also spiritually since she started homeschooling. Along with that, she has learned many valuable life skills that she will carry with her into college and beyond.

This fall, Abby looks forward to attending Bethany Lutheran College. Because her favorite Sonlight course is Advanced Biology, she wants to major in exercise science and one day become an athletic trainer. The more she learns about the human body, the more she realizes what an amazing and intricate God she serves. She can’t wait to share her passion and knowledge with others. She is so excited and thankful to see where God leads her in this next part of her life.

Abby is immensely grateful to Sonlight for the impact it has had on her life. Besides academics, if Sonlight has taught her one thing, it is to stand up for her faith. Because of this, Sonlight has helped establish a firm, rooted foundation in her faith, which continues to grow every day. She will strive to be the light of Jesus, spread His love to everyone she meets, and endeavor towards her goals and God’s plans for her life.

Congratulations to Our Winners & All 2026 Graduates

As we applaud these outstanding 2026 Sonlight Scholarship winners, we also want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s graduates and students. Whether your student is finishing high school, middle school, or elementary school, each stage of learning and growth is worth celebrating.

Our prayer for our scholarship winners and all Sonlighters is that God will guide them as they discover their gifts and passions and that they are encouraged to walk confidently in the purposes He has for them. May they continue to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and character, and may they find joy in learning and grace in every season.

To our Sonlight parents and families, we are honored to walk alongside you. Thank you for choosing Sonlight as your partner in your homeschool journey and for answering the call to homeschool. We pray that you recognize how your dedication, sacrifice, and love shape the next generation and have gotten your student to this milestone.

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Are you homeschooling a future scholarship winner? Learn more about our scholarship requirements and how to apply in the coming years.