Conference students among Goshen College 2009 President’s Leadership Award recipients

GOSHEN, Ind. -- Goshen College has awarded the 2009 President's Leadership Award (PLA), the college's top merit scholarship, to 10 college-bound students, including two IN-MI Conference students.

Erin Helmuth of Elkhart, Ind., daughter of Ray and Sonja Gyori- Helmuth. She is graduating from Bethany Christian High School and attends Prairie Street Mennonite Church. She is planning on studying pre-physical therapy in college.

Peter Martin of Goshen, Ind., son of Kendel and Lori Martin. He is graduating from Goshen High School and attends North Goshen Mennonite Church. He is planning on studying nursing or pre-medicine in college.

“I congratulate all of the award recipients and applicants for their academic achievements and leadership, and I look forward to welcoming them to campus this fall,” said Goshen College President Jim Brenneman. “They will each make significant contributions to our campus, and they will find peers and professors to help them thrive in college and beyond.”

The PLA recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in their schools, churches and communities. The award, worth $15,000 per year and $60,000 over four years, is renewable if recipients maintain a 3.5 grade point average during college and contribute 15 hours per semester in a leadership program that is specified by the college president.

The college received 100 applications from prospective students for the PLA. Applicants must meet at least two of the following criteria: earn at least a 1270 on the Enhanced SAT or 29 on the ACT; rank in the top 5 percent of their graduating class; record a grade point average of 3.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale; or be a National Merit Semifinalist.

Each PLA candidate was interviewed in January by a team of two faculty members and a current Goshen College student that had previously been named a PLA recipient. Each applicant wrote an essay, responding to one of three questions, and the essays were scored by two English faculty members. After all of the scoring was complete, a selection committee chose the recipients based on the criteria.