Four outstanding high school students were recently awarded with full tuition scholarships after winning the second annual Central Scholars competition at Central Methodist University. Emilia Bates of Hannibal and Keilan Johnson of Blue Springs were named Eagle Select scholarship winners, while Brayden Loftin of Ava was selected as the Pre-Health Scholar, and Alexa Lee of Green City was the winner of the Valedictorian Scholarship.
“Central Scholars continues its exceptional record of attracting high-achieving academic students to compete for full tuition scholarships. This year’s participants have an average GPA of 4.06,” said Dr. Melissa Mace, vice president for enrollment management. “The resumes, essays, and interviews of these participants simply amaze me, and I am so proud they want to make CMU their college home.”
To be eligible for the Central Scholars competition, students needed to meet a high school GPA minimum of 3.75 and apply to participate. Each participant submitted an essay and resume and was later interviewed on campus by CMU faculty, staff, and/or alumni.
Following the scholarship competition in February, the winners were surprised at their schools by CMU staff, in front of their classmates and families.
Hannibal High School senior Emilia Bates was an Eagle Select Scholarship awardee. She plans to major in exercise science while playing on the volleyball team and participating in Greek life. Bates also says she is excited to take advantage of the 3+2 program that will allow her to complete both a bachelor’s in exercise science and a master’s in athletic training in just five years.
“That program really excites me because it’s everything I want to do, and in five year’s I’ll have a master’s degree,” she said, adding that she loved the process of competing in the Central Scholars Day. “I told my mom I would do that again. I liked the interview and meeting some of my future classmates and getting to see Central Methodist.”
Also planning to major in communications is fellow Eagle Select winner Keilan Johnson, a senior from Blue Springs High School who has committed to play for the Eagle men’s soccer team.
“Competing was really fun. . . In the interview process, I had two great interviewers who were a joy to be around and made me feel really comfortable,” said Johnson. “What excites me most [about coming to Central] is getting to go out and make my own way, to just get grown-up and real-world experience.”
Pre-Health Scholarship winner Brayden Loftin of Ava High School plans to major in biology and says he is excited to explore all the different avenues of science at CMU and take advantage of the technology offered, including the unique Anatomage Table for virtual dissection.
Alexa Lee, of Green City High School, is a Valedictorian Scholarship winner who plans to major in communications and participate with the Eagle Envy dance team.
“[Central Scholars] was an amazing experience. It was definitely nerve-wracking, but the staff there is so kind and made me feel so welcome,” she said. “I’m excited for the new environment that I’ll get to experience [at Central], all the new people there and the new form of learning that I’ll get to experience.”
For more on Central Scholars and all the many scholarship opportunities at Central Methodist, visit https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships.html. Contact the office of admission at 660-248-6251 or admissions@centralmethodist.edu for more on how to apply to Central.