Meet the 8 graduating seniors who received Granville Kiwanis scholarships

Special to Granville Sentinel
·4 min read

The Granville Kiwanis Scholarship Awards for 2023 set a record in supporting outstanding graduating students. The Scholarship Committee awarded $9,000 to eight graduates from four local high schools. It awarded five scholarships to graduates from Granville High School and one each to the graduating students from Welsh Hills School, Granville Christian Academy, and the Career And Technology Education Centers of Licking County ITEC program.

Annual scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, community service, work experience, and extramural activities. Kiwanis President Lesa Miller said awarding the scholarships is a substantial contribution to the youth in our community. It is one of the many ways the membership of Granville Kiwanis works to support families and the children in the Granville area. The Millers, Lesa and Jerry, along with the 80 members of Granville Kiwanis, are spearheading the effort to make the 2023 July 4th four-day celebration the best yet. The family-friendly event is a significant fundraiser for the club's charitable projects, including the annual scholarships.

The Granville Kiwanis Scholarship Committee, working with Brandi Cosgrove in Student Counseling at Granville High School, presented its scholarship awards to Sophia Cotts, Story Laing, Brooke Lemert, Ella Johnson and Emery Johnson.

Sophia Cotts, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.
Sophia Cotts, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.

As the top award recipient Sophia Cotts was recognized for her leadership skills and as one of the school's most energetic and hardest-working students who enjoys helping people. She is also an outstanding runner and exceptionally talented artist. Sophia is headed to Ohio Wesleyan University this fall and is interested in becoming a physician specializing in emergency medicine.

Story Laing, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.
Story Laing, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.

Story Laing will attend Wittenberg University and wants to study biology, specializing in marine biology and helping preserve ocean biodiversity. While at GHS, Story worked for several local companies and was a three-year member of the National Honor Society, treasurer for Key Club, and Student Council President. She is empathetic, resilient, collaborative, and well-organized with strong management skills. She wants to live a fulfilling life and help children.

Brooke Lemert will attend Grace College, a private Christian college in Indiana, this fall. At GHS, she completed 21 college credit courses by taking advantage of summer course opportunities because she "loves learning so much." Brooke earned two associate degrees while still in high school. At Grace College, she plans to study medical research focusing on pathology. She also enjoys swimming and the arts. Brooke approaches every situation meticulously and thoughtfully while leading and encouraging many teammates to achieve goals they thought were unachievable.

Ella Johnson is graduating from Granville High School and will run cross country and track at Baylor University in Texas.
Ella Johnson is graduating from Granville High School and will run cross country and track at Baylor University in Texas.

Ella Johnson is on her way to Baylor University as her first step toward a doctorate in physical therapy to care for athletes on a professional level. While at GHS, she was employed by several local companies and has been a National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member since 2021 and on the Academic Honor Roll beginning in 2019. Her extracurricular activities included being President of Interact Club, Captain of the GHS Cross Country Team, participating in the Indoor/Outdoor Track Team, and being a Key Club and YoungLife member.

Emery Johnson, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, will to study psychology at OSU and hopes to help others work through mental health challenges.
Emery Johnson, a 2023 Granville High School graduate, will to study psychology at OSU and hopes to help others work through mental health challenges.

With a focus on obtaining an advanced degree in psychology, Emery Johnson looks forward to attending Ohio State University. Her teachers nominated Emery to participate in a Student Agency Project to create a plan to give all GHS students more ownership over their learning. She was active in the OMEA Solo & Ensemble, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Girls Tennis Team, President of GHS Key Club, and member of French Club, Granville Young Life, GHS Bible study, and Girls Volleyball. Throughout high school, Emery has been active in the Granville community, including reading to children every Saturday and serving as a buddy to seniors at Otterbein Granville Senior Life Community.

Jackson Brand, a 2023 Welsh Hills School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.
Jackson Brand, a 2023 Welsh Hills School graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.

With the support of the Head of School, Mya Sullivan, at Welsh Hills School, graduate Jackson Brand was awarded a Kiwanis scholarship to attend Ohio Wesleyan University, majoring in computer science. His dream is to learn more about programming and become a game designer. He is at his best and happiest when expressing himself and creating something, be it music, art, or programs. Jackson looks forward to working for a small game studio or working independently on his projects, creating computer games for others to enjoy.

Bethany McMullen, a 2023 Granville Christian Academy graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.
Bethany McMullen, a 2023 Granville Christian Academy graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.

Guided by Joshua Sexton, Head of School, Granville Christian Academy, the Kiwanis Club of Granville awarded a scholarship to graduating senior Bethany McMullen. At the academy, she served on the Student Council, was Student Ambassador, and participated in the Math, Science, and Spanish Clubs on campus. During her high school experience, Bethany developed an interest in studying and learning about education and history. She sees herself teaching and making a difference in students' lives, sharing what she learned from her excellent teachers. Bethany believes that volunteering and shaping our communities youth is the key to a fantastic future for America. She plans to learn more about the subjects at Ashbury University this fall.

Jonathan Madariaga, a 2023 C-TEC graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.
Jonathan Madariaga, a 2023 C-TEC graduate, was one of eight area seniors to receive a scholarship from Granville Kiwanis.

Assisted by Kathy Hubbard, an instructor at C-TEC, a Kiwanis scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Madariaga. His education included community job experiences at Licking Memorial Health System, Newark Area Soccer Association, Rural King, The GolfWorks, Denison University Dining, and Otterbein Senior Life. His strengths include accepting new tasks, understanding their importance, asking thoughtful questions, communicating clearly, and being patient with others.

Information submitted by Granville Kiwanis.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Granville Kiwanis awards 8 scholarships to graduating seniors