September 29, 2017
SIU Carbondale awards 26 Chancellor’s Scholarships
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Exceptional efforts in the classroom and in their communities are among the qualities of this year’s Chancellor’s Scholars at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The Chancellor’s Scholarship, SIU’s most prestigious award, is a significant achievement for the students as it covers tuition, fees, room and board for four years. Twenty-six students were selected to receive this year’s awards.
Nearly 400 students participated in the Chancellor’s and University Excellence Scholarship Interview Weekend. Recipients are selected each year based on the students’ ACT or SAT scores, their academic credentials submitted at the time of admission, and personal interviews. The applicants also have a record of leadership in their communities and participation in numerous extracurricular activities.
The award is renewable for three years, contingent upon the students maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA. A list of current and previous winners is available at scholarships.siu.edu/current-scholars/scholars-list.php.
Illinois
Albion
Elijah Henson, Edwards County High School, is the son of Nancy and Matthew Henson. An Illinois State Scholar and 2017 class salutatorian, Henson was an Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Honors Chorus selection. He participated in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and scholastic bowl, and was science club president and vice president for both the Spanish club and Future Business Leaders of America chapter. Henson was a Courier & Press STAR student and an Elk’s Most Valuable Student state finalist. He is majoring in mathematics (pre-medicine).
Camargo
Alana Campbell, Villa Grove High School, is the daughter of Virginia Campbell of Camargo and Michael Campbell of Tuscola. A National Honor Society member, Campbell participated in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and earned math and science awards. She was a Little Okaw Valley Conference Scholar Athlete and first-team all-conference selection in basketball. She also played softball and volleyball. Campbell is majoring in physiology.
Carbondale
Kate Forer, Carbondale Community High School, is the daughter of Jo and Patrick Forer. An Illinois State Scholar, she earned a gold medal for her art portfolio in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. She earned all-state French horn and all-district bands and orchestra honors from the Illinois Music Educator Association and was a member of the school’s marching, concert and pep bands. She was in the SIU Civic Orchestra, vice president of the high school’s art club and visual editor and illustrator for the Quill literary magazine. She is majoring in art and sociology.
Carterville
Bailey Morgan, Carterville High School, is the daughter of Renee and Michael Morgan. A National Honor Society member, she participated in marching band, theater and youth and government. She was the Hope David Band Award recipient. She is majoring in biological science.
Coulterville
Nicole Laskowski, Marissa Junior-Senior High School, is the daughter of Gail and Timothy Laskowski. Her school’s National Honor Society president, she was also active in the FFA program, earning an Illinois Association FFA State Degree, along with awards from the Daughter of the American Revolution and the American Legion. Laskowski was the Illinois Association FFA Section 22 vice president and placed in several FFA state and section contests. She was a member of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, scholar bowl, math team, beta club, cross-country and girls’ basketball squads. Laskowski was the high school band’s drum major, journalism editor and in school’s anti-bullying club. She plans to major in agribusiness economics and agricultural systems and education.
Edinburg
Benjamin Tapscott, Taylorville High School, is the son of Cynthia and Michael Tapscott. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society member, Tapscott was also a member of the Key Club. He was on the school’s academic high honor roll in each of his four years in school. He played varsity football and received outstanding athletic achievement awards in 2015 and 2016. He was also a State Journal-Register Male Student Athlete of the Week selection. He is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Genoa
Jessica Kurpius, Genoa-Kingston High School, is the daughter of Rozanna and Chuck Kurpius. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society member, she was a student council member and involved with the international club. She participated in the high school marching band where she was a three-year drum major, and a Keep Encouraging Youth to Succeed (KEYS) Award recipient. She is majoring in engineering.
Gibson City
Caleb Pulley, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School, is the son of Ginny and Brian Pulley. An Illinois State Scholar, Pulley was selected the health and physical education student of the year as a senior. He was also mathematics student of the year as a junior and sophomore, as well as freshman and sophomore student of the year. He played high school soccer and was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Pulley is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Herrin
Matthew Cagle, Herrin High School, is the son of Pamela and Bradley Cagle. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society president, Cagle graduated No. 1 in his class and was selected “Mr. Herrin High School.” He played basketball, tennis and soccer, and was a member of the math team, scholar bowl and student government. He also participated in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and Rotary Interact. He also received the high school’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. He is majoring in accounting.
Lemont
Sarah Hagen, Lemont High School, is the daughter of Kelly Hagen of Lemont and Martin Hagen of Bremen, Germany. Achieving a 4.0 GPA, Hagan was involved in the school’s marching, symphonic, and pep bands, a cappella choir, and drama and interact clubs. She earned departmental awards in science and social studies, and was on the school’s Scholastic Bowl team. Hagan participated in the South Suburban Science Conference and Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE). She is majoring in physics.
Marion
Lucas Boles, Agape Christian High School, is the son of Marilyn and Michael Boles. His school’s valedictorian, Boles was student body vice president and involved in music projects both in and outside of school. He is majoring in finance.
Marshall
Jonas Standerfer, Marshall High School, is the son of Ellen Lake and Jim Standerfer II. An Illinois State Scholar, he was a member of the school’s scholar bowl team and received the James Jones Literary Society Award. He is majoring in radio, television, and digital media.
Metropolis
Chelsea Duncan, Massac County High School, is the daughter of Michele Wright. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society recipient, she participated on the school’s math team. She was also a member of the volleyball team, earning the “Will to Win Award” and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is majoring in animal science.
Norris City
Britt Peyton, Norris City-Omaha-Enfield High School, is the daughter of Angie and William Peyton. An Illinois State Scholar, she earned high honors all four years in high school and received the school’s highest GPA in math and science award. She was a 2017 Illinois High School Association All-State All-Academic Team honorable mention, and was second in physics in the 2017 Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) regional competition. She participated in the concert, jazz, pep, and marching bands and color guard. Pulley played volleyball and softball and was a 2016 Southern Illinois Coaches Association Class 1A All-South volleyball team selection and 2016 Greater Egyptian Conference All-Conference selection in both volleyball and softball. She is majoring in physiology.
Springfield
Lauryn N. Leonard, Pleasant Plains High School, is the daughter of Sue and Craig Leonard. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society member, Leonard was her high school class president and earned departmental awards of excellence in Spanish, psychology, AP psychology and AP English. She was also secretary for the Spanish, science and beta clubs. Leonard also participated in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE). The team captain for the volleyball and track and field teams, Leonard earned the girls’ volleyball Cardinal Leadership Award. She is majoring in physiology and psychology.
Washington
J.T. Harris, Washington Community High School, is the son of Jenny and Bobby Harris. A National Honor Society member, Harris was also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He earned the Jim Lindsley Service and Leadership Award, Evan Knoblauch Award and the Illinois High School Association Scholastic Achievement Award. He participated in speech, football, and track and field. He is majoring in history education.
Alyssa Metelak, Washington Community High School, is the daughter of Sherry and Mike Metelak. An Illinois State Scholar and National Honor Society member, she received the John Phillip Sousa Band Award, WaCoHi Classmates Music Scholarship for Band, and an American Legion scholarship. The band president, she was a member of the concert, jazz and marching bands. She participated in student council, the superintendent’s advisory council, and varsity girl’s golf, where she was first-team all-conference. She is majoring in communications and media arts.
Indiana
Evansville
Kelsey Odom, Central High School, is the daughter of Trenny and Gregory Odom. A National Honor Society member, Odom was an Indiana Academic All-Star nominee and received a Courier & Press Bronze STAR Student Award. She participated in student council, German club, Key and drama clubs, choir and thespian troupe #6100. She earned first in school-wide National History Day honors and a level 3 national German exam silver medal. She is majoring in accounting.
West Lafayette
Lincoln Weber, William Henry Harrison High School, is the son of Tamara and Ronald Weber. His school’s valedictorian, Weber was a National Merit Scholarship commended student and a delegate to the Hoosier Boys’ State program. He was on the high school student council, quiz bowl, and academic super bowl. He is majoring in mechanical engineering and physics.
Kentucky
Lexington
Morgan Scarlett Smith, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, is the daughter of Laurel Regnier and Bret Smith. A National Honor Society member, Smith was a Senator Jeff Green Scholar and received a Girl Scout Gold Award. She was also involved in theater. Smith is majoring in biological sciences.
Missouri
Chesterfield
Henry Creamer, Christian Brothers College High School, is the son of Lynn and Mike Creamer. He participated in Model United Nations, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) club, theater and swimming. He is majoring in architectural studies.
Tennessee
Elizabethton
Cody Dugger, Elizabethton High School, is the son of Stephanie Taylor and Edwin Taylor. Dugger graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. He received the school’s 2017 health science award, and a two-time international competitor for Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA-Future Health Professionals), including a top 10 finalist in 2016. He was secretary and executive board member for his high school’s HOSA chapter, co-founder and co-president of the school’s LGBT club, and secretary of the school’s Shakespeare Society. He is majoring in mortuary science and funeral service.
Memphis
Vernecelyn Nicole Geneva Allen, Memphis Central High School, is the daughter of Vertanya Allen. A National Honor Society member, Allen was on the Distinguished Honor Roll throughout high school. She participated in numerous activities, including the drama club, international club, green club, movie club, and gender-sexuality alliance. She was also a tutor for her school’s writing lab. She is majoring in aviation flight and management.
Bria Gipson, Germantown High School, is the daughter of Tanya and Reginald Gipson. A member of the national French Honor Society, she was also involved in the French, beta, modern film, thespian troupe, and international clubs, along with “GHS Loves Animals,” which works with local animal shelters. She received awards as French II Student of the Year, and outstanding service in television production and main stage production, along with a props crew award of merit. She is majoring in radio, television, and digital media.
Mount Juliet
Cassidy Lounsbury, Wilson Central High School, is the daughter of Heather and Tim Lounsbury. A National Honor Society president, Lounsbury was on the student council, beta club and was swim team captain. She is majoring in microbiology.
Nashville
Eduardo Picado, Centennial High School, is the son of Josephine and Ariel Picado. He was selected a “Most Outstanding Student” for the high school orchestra and received an award for music leadership. He was first chair violinist in the Centennial Strings Orchestra, captain of the Franklin Calvary rugby team, and member of the Franklin Chamber Orchestra. He is majoring in zoology.
