Fourteen outstanding Southern Illinois high school students have earned merit-based scholarships from the Garwin Family Foundation (GFF) to attend highly selective enrichment programs in STEM and the Arts.
Marsha Ryan, MD, JD, FACS, and GFF Director: “The GFF is proud to be sponsoring its 12th cohort of regional high school students this year. These are the brightest and most dedicated students in science, math, and the arts. It is our privilege to know them and to be able to contribute to their learning this summer. We are pleased to be able to send them to prestigious campuses throughout the country where they will study hard, experience life in the residence halls, and make life-long friends.
This group of high-achieving students is a tribute to Carbondale Community High School (CCHS), Carterville High School (CHS), and Herrin High School (HHS), which provide them with such extraordinary structure close to home. We are convinced that these students will go on to make a difference in the world. We will be proud to have played this role in their development.”
The 2025 sponsorees are:
- Laila Al-Asfour, Carbondale Community High School, Junior, UChicago Summer Immersion Program
- Tanya Arun, Carterville High School, Junior, WashU Research Development Institute
- Liam Batteau, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, Stanford Jazz Workshop
- Francis Bu, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, WashU High School Summer Scholars Program
- Zoya Chowdhury, Carbondale Community High School, Junior, UChicago Summer Immersion Program
- Ryan Dai, Carbondale Community High School, Junior, Summer@Brown
- Margaret Davis, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, Syracuse University Summer College
- Emily Edwards, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writer’s Workshop
- David Johnson, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, AwesomeMath Summer Program
- Alexei Kadyrov, Carbondale Community High School, Sophomore, WashU Research Development Institute
- Addison Krotz, Herrin High School, Junior, Boston University Summer Challenge
- Mollie Mandell, Carterville High School, Freshman, UChicago Summer Immersion Program
- Reka Nabe, Carbondale Community High School, Freshman, Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writer’s Workshop
- Isabella Ratchford, Herrin High School, Junior, WashU High School Summer Scholars Program
The GFF program has a lasting impact on recipients. It enhances their academic and artistic excellence through advanced studies, provides a competitive edge in college applications, and prepares them for college life through the development of time management and independent living skills. Previous scholarship winners have pursued undergraduate majors in the areas of their GFF-sponsored programs, and several have attended the elite university where they participated in summer enrichment activities.
This is CHS’s third year of participation in the summer program. Their principal, Todd Rogers, says, “We are grateful and proud to continue our partnership with the Garwin Family Foundation, and we look forward to seeing the impact these prestigious summer enrichment opportunities have on our students.”
HHS is also in its third year of participation with GFF. Cathy Shelton, school counselor, says, “The GFF program gives our students access to opportunities they just wouldn’t find in this region. It challenges them in meaningful ways, helps them grow academically and artistically, and builds their confidence. I’ve seen students come out of the program more prepared for college—and more willing to reach for schools they might not have considered before. Many have gone on to study in the same fields they explored through GFF and have even been accepted to top-tier universities.”
CCHS is currently in its twelfth year of participating in GFF’s summer program. Now, with their graduates excelling in college and completing their master’s or doctoral degrees, the administration has witnessed the personal and academic growth of students who have participated in GFF’s programs. “Thanks to the Garwin Family Foundation’s financial sponsorship, our students will have the opportunity to learn, create, and immerse themselves at some of the most distinguished academic institutions in the country. Their experiences at these institutions will open countless doors and create endless opportunities. It will also continue to put CCHS students on display as some of the strongest in the country,” according to Ryan Thomas, CCHS principal.
Daniel Booth, CCHS superintendent, states, “The Garwin Family Foundation’s (GFF) support for Carbondale Community High School students stands as a national model of giving back. This partnership exemplifies the power of a community coming together to uplift the next generation of leaders by opening their eyes to the educational and experiential opportunities available across the country. The experiences made possible through GFF scholarships are not only mind-stimulating and thought-provoking, but also help students discover direction and purpose as they chart their own paths in life. The impact of this support resonates deeply within our school community, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership for many years to come.”
The GFF, a tax-exempt operating foundation based in Carbondale, IL, was established in 1993 by Leo and Ruth Garwin. The Foundation is committed to providing extraordinary summer academic experiences for highly motivated public high school students from rural Southern Illinois. It empowers these students to forge meaningful connections with peers, push beyond their perceived limits, and explore their passions, paving the way for future success.
For more information, contact Vanessa Sneed GFF Student Sponsorship Program Administrator, at garwinffpm@gmail.com.
