The 2019 scholarship winners for the Garwin Family Foundation’s Carbondale Community High School CCHS Student Sponsorship Program for Talented Students in the Arts, Sciences, and Math are (left to right): Maya Benyas, Longmei Ge, Minseo “Emily” Jung, Arkaprabha Kolay, and Charlie Du.
Five outstanding Carbondale Community High School (CCHS) students have earned merit-based scholarships from the Garwin Family Foundation (GFF) to attend highly selective enrichment programs in STEM.
“In our sixth year sponsoring CCHS students for summer enrichment programs, we once again have a crop of stellar CCHS students attending top-flight academic institutions in the United States and abroad,” said Marsha Ryan, MD, JD, FACS, GFF director. “That is a testament to these students and to the CCHS faculty and staff, demonstrating that they can compete so successfully for highly sought-after spots in these programs. We are proud to be part of such a formative process, as we truly expect these young people to change the world.”
The 2019 sponsorees are:
- Maya Benyas, a rising CCHS junior and second-time “GFFer,” who will attend the Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes, where she will study physics;
- Charlie Du, a rising CCHS junior and second-time “GFFer,” who was admitted to PROMYS/Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists at Boston University, where he will focus on coursework in number theory;
- Longmei Ge, a rising CCHS sophomore, who gained admission to the Brown University’s Summer@Brown Pre-College Program, where she will be immersed in the study of marine biology;
- Minseo “Emily” Jung, a rising CCHS sophomore, who will attend the Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes in cryptography, as well as the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s program in Seoul, South Korea, where she will study international, economic, and political policy; and
- Arkaprabha Kolay, a rising CCHS sophomore, who matriculated into the Michigan Math and Science Scholars Program, where he will concentrate on “Music and Math.”
“To my knowledge, the GFF’s Student Sponsorship Program for Talented Students in Arts, Sciences, and Math is the only program of its kind,” said Steve Murphy, CCHS superintendent. “Through the continuous efforts and generous donations of the Foundation, CCHS students are given truly life-changing opportunities at a pivotal point in their development. Our students are beyond fortunate to be able to apply for these sponsorships, and, as superintendent, I am beyond grateful to the Garwin family for providing such a unique opportunity for our students.”
The program’s lasting impact on recipients: enhances their academic excellence through advanced studies in an area of proven ability and interest, provides a competitive edge in college applications, and readies them for college life through the development of time-management and independent-living skills. Previous scholarship winners have pursued undergraduate majors in the area of their GFF-sponsored programs, and several prior GFF sponsorees have attended the elite universities where they participated in summer enrichment studies.
“CCHS is extremely appreciative of the support and opportunities the GFF offers our students in the areas of the arts, sciences, and math,” said Ryan Thomas, CCHS principal. “Thanks to the Foundation’s financial sponsorship, our students 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 also puts CCHS students on display as some of the strongest in the country.”
The GFF, a tax-exempt operating foundation based in Carbondale, Illinois, was established in 1993 by Leo and Ruth Garwin. The GFF’s principle objectives are furthering study and fostering achievement in the arts and sciences, humanities, law, and medicine. In the two decades of its operation, it has underwritten many educational programs; its latest project is the CCHS Student Sponsorship Program for Talented Students in Arts, Sciences, and Math.
For more information, contact Lori Merrill-Fink GFF Student Sponsorship Program Administrator, at lorimf@garwinfamilyfoundation.org.