Scholarship News

MERF has announced the winners of the 2002-2003 Scholarship Essay Contest and I want to share the results with you.

The rules allowed us to forward 10 essays to Regional for judging. The Regional and National judges have confirmed your assessments. The three essays you judged to be the best among our entries have all won scholarships.

Our Number One essay, submitted by April Denise Toms, has won the National Lester London award for $600. This award is for a graduate student in history. She has returned to school after a nine-year absence to pursue an advanced degree in Public History and Museum Studies with Archival Certification.

Our Number Two essay, submitted by Michael Austin Robertson, has won the Kuhnel Scholarship, one of three $500 Regional Scholarships awarded among the 14 participating groups in Region 6. Michael had first envisioned a career as a "powerful business executive," but a visit to a Roman Cathedral caused him to reinvent the way he thinks about life. He switched his ambitions to a career in medicine. Michael has finished his degree in molecular and cell biology with a 4.0 GPA and will be entering medical school in the fall.

Our Number Three essay, submitted by Tam Nguyen, a high school student, has won a Diana Mossip award for $300. Tam is a first-generation Vietnamese-American, and will enter college in the fall. She seeks a career in medical research.

It is likely that our local group, Mensa76, will award at least two additional scholarships. They may elect to choose from these top winners, or from these and the other seven we submitted. MERF does not award two scholarships to the same person, but Mensa76 may give their awards as they wish.

In any case, I thank you again for participating and sharing your expertise.

Max Helen Harrison, Scholarship Chair