Goshen College announces top scholarship recipients for 2014-15

June 3, 2014

Goshen College announced today the 34 recipients of the school’s top scholarships for 2014-15.

Five 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 $19,000 per year and $76,000 over four years, includes participation in a leadership program. The award is renewable if recipients maintain a 3.5 grade point average during college and contribute 15 hours per semester in the leadership program.

The 2014 PLA selections, who will receive the scholarship upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

Kenan Bitikofer of Manhattan, Kansas, is the son of Mervin and Cathrine Bitikofer. A graduate of Flint Hills Christian School, he plans to study informatics.
Brenner Burkholder, of Topeka, Kansas, is the son of Lyle Burkholder and Lori Oesch. A graduate of Washburn Rural High School, he plans to study chemistry.
Megan Eigsti, of Washington, D.C., is the daughter of Calvin Eigsti and Sara Swartzendruber. A graduate of the School Without Walls, her major is undecided.
Elaina Neufeld Basinger, of Findlay, Ohio, is the daughter of Eric Basinger and Iris Neufeld. A graduate of Findlay High School, she plans to study nursing.
Simon Weaver, of Madison, Wisconsin, is the son of Jon Dyck and Lisa Weaver. A graduate of West High School, he plans to study biology.

Nine students are being offered Center for International Teaching & Learning (CITL) Leadership Program awards. The CITL Leadership Program is for a group of Latino/a students who are selected to participate in a learning community as part of the college’s Center for Intercultural and International Education (CIIE). The award is reserved for first-generation college students. The students receive up to full tuition and leadership opportunities on campus for four years.

To qualify for the CITL Leadership Program, students must be of Hispanic/Latino heritage, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a high school grade point average of 3.0 or above and be entering Goshen College directly from high school. Priority is given to in-state students, though out-of-state students are encouraged to apply as well.

The students who will receive the CITL Leadership Program awards are:

Gabriella Castañon of San Antonio, Texas, is the daughter of Martin and Diane Castañon. A graduate of the International School of the Americas, she plans to study exercise science.
Nahomi Diaz De Leon, of Goshen, is the daughter of Jose and Marha Diaz De Leon. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study nursing.
Jennifer Esparza, of Goshen, is the daughter of Gaspar and Carmen Esparza. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study nursing.
Marco Fraticelli, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the son of Ian Fraticelli and Arlene Oruña. A graduate of Robinson High School, he plans to study business.
Lyen Garcia, of Hialeah, Florida, is the daughter of Williams Garcia and Odalys Cardenas. A graduate of Master Academy Charter Middle/High School, she plans to study environmental science.
Eva Gonzalez, of South Bend, is the daughter of Carmelo and Vanessa Gonzalez. A graduate of James W. Riley High School, she plans to study nursing.
Miguel Rodriguez, of Elkhart, is the son of Placido and Evelia Rodriquez. A graduate of Concord High School, he plans to study physics.
Martina Tidd, of Elkhart, is the daughter of Heidi Tidd. A graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School, she plans to study nursing.
Jorge Suriano, of Goshen, is the son of Vicente and Jaqueline Suriano. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study biology.

In addition, 18 high school seniors are being offered the Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship, which is awarded to African American, Latino/a American, Asian American and Native American (ALANA) students who have demonstrated a distinguished academic record and significant leadership in activities which promote multicultural awareness in their local communities during high school. The Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship is worth $5,000 per year and $20,000 over four years.

To qualify for the Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship, 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 Stoltzfus Leadership Scholarship are:

Diona Beck of Indianapolis, is the daughter of Anthony and Donna Beck. A graduate of Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, she plans to study music.
Valentin Calvillo, of Goshen, is the son of Valentin and Silvia Calvillo. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study molecular biology/biochemistry.
Phillip Chan, of Hialeah, Florida, is the son of Aihoa Deng and Xianchao Chen. A graduate of Master Academy Charter Middle/High School, he plans to study physics.
Yari Coronado, of Pettisville, Ohio, is the daughter of Juan and Gloria Coronado. A graduate of Pettisville High School, her major is undecided.
Alexander Delgadillo, of Dakota, Illinois, is the son of Julio and Dorothy Delgadillo. A graduate of Highland Community School, he plans to study chemistry.
Valerie Diaz, of Goshen, is the daughter of Francisco Diaz and Maribel Aguilar. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study nursing.
Elfriede Diestel, of Goshen, is the daughter of Eckhart Diestel. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study biology.
Tyeshia Leavell, of Indianapolis, is the daughter of Larry Johnson and Tracey Berry. A graduate of Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, she plans to study art.
Stefany Molina, of Goshen, is the daughter of Oscar and Lesbia Molina. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study biology.
Manuel Montesinos, of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is the son of Jose Del Rio and Teresa Montesinos. A graduate of South West Education Society, he plans to study biology.
Bryan Nguyen, of Goshen, is the son of Michael Nguyen and Trinh Phan. A graduate of Bethany Christian High School, he plans to study biology.
Stephanie Quiroz, of Goshen, is the daughter of Eligio and Veronica Quiroz. A graduate of Goshen High School, she plans to study nursing.
Reena Ramos, of Auburn, Indiana, is the daughter of Rene Ramos and Lisa Seiler. A graduate of Dekalb High School, she plans to study biology.
America Salgado, of Chicago, is the daughter of Erika Hernandez. A graduate of Noble Street Charter High School, she plans to study psychology.
John Schrock-Shenk, of Goshen, is the son of David Shenk and Carolyn Schrock-Shenk. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study biology.
A’Sean Street, of Indianapolis, is the daughter of Sean Street and Dollreathea Dorsey. A graduate of Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, she plans to study theater.
Adrian Torres, of Goshen, is the son of Adrian and Edelmira Torres. A graduate of Fairfield High School, he plans to study physical education.
Casandra Villalobos, of Elkhart, is the daughter of Francisco Villalobos and Ana Martinez. A graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School, she plans to study physical education.

Four incoming students were offered LEAF Scholarships. The LEAF Scholarship is made possible by a new five-year grant from the National Science Foundation. The scholarship will support academically talented first-generation college students that are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The recipients will receive a four-year scholarship of up to $40,000 total and participate in group activities to ensure their academic and professional success. The recipients of the LEAF Scholarships, upon enrollment at Goshen College, are:

Phillip Chan, of Hialeah, Florida, is the son of Aihoa Deng and Xianchao Chen. A graduate of Master Academy Charter Middle/High School, he plans to study physics.
Meghan Gerke, of Wyoming, Michigan, is the daughter of Shawn and Ami Gerke. A graduate of Catholic Central High School, she plans to study chemistry.
Bryan Nguyen, of Goshen, is the son of Michael Nguyen and Trinh Phan. A graduate of Bethany Christian High School, he plans to study biology.
Dmitriy Shendel, of Goshen, is the son of Vasyl and Nadiya Shendel. A graduate of Goshen High School, he plans to study chemistry.