Scholarships awarded to 25 high-school graduates
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 21, 2015 – The LPGA Foundation announced the 25 high-school graduates selected to receive this year’s Marilynn Smith Scholarship, which was named in honor of one of the LPGA’s 13 founding members. All 25 high school seniors, who will play collegiate golf while pursuing college degrees, have demonstrated outstanding academic excellence, leadership skills and active involvement and service to her community while fulfilling specific requirements for each scholarship award. Each recipient will receive $5,000 in scholarships.
Sydney Babiak graduated from Bentley School in California, where she was a two-time captain of the co-ed golf team, co-president of Latinos Unidos cultural club, and Female Athlete of the Year three years in a row.
Babiak plans to attend Yale University and major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Her dream is to help pharmaceutical companies file patents for their products.
Kinsley Bonfilio graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in Idaho where she was valedictorian, team captain of both the golf and track and field teams, History Student of the Year, and served as student council president.
Bonfilio plans to attend Boise State University where she will major in Biology along the Pre-Med track with hopes to become a dermatologist.
Julia Calbi graduated from Barrington High School in Illinois. There, she played on the
varsity team, served as a freshman mentor, and was an ACT tutor. She is also the No. 1 female golfer in the state of Illinois.
Calbi will be attending Dartmouth University where she will pursue a degree in Economics. She wants to specialize in microlending so that she can help women in South America start their own businesses.
Lauryn Davidson graduated from Parkersburg High School in West Virginia. She was captain of the golf team for two years, activities director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and vice president of both the Forge Student Ministries and the Spanish club.
Davidson will be attending Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where she will be a Pre-Physician’s Assistant major and minor in Spanish. She wants to become a
physician’s assistant to make a considerable and personal impact in people’s lives.
Isabel Detienne graduated from South High School in Wisconsin where she was captain of the golf and softball teams, president of rotary interact club, and treasurer of the student council. She was also the Sheboygan County golf champion for two years in a row.
Detienne will be attending St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, where she will study psychology and art therapy. Her goal is to become an art therapist and work with children and/or mentally and physically challenged people.
Aine Filler graduated from Moorestown High School in New Jersey where she was involved in many clubs and sports team. She was South Jersey Junior Tour Player of the Year and Most Improved Player of GAP.
Filler will be attending Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania where she will double major in business and in the medical field.
Mikaela Hickey graduated from Belleville West High School in Illinois. There, she was captain of the golf team, president of the Lifesavers club, and captain of the Spanish Scholar Bowl.
Hickey will be attending University of Findlay, Ohio. Her plan is to obtain a Doctorate of Pharmacy with an undergraduate degree in Biology, Spanish, and Sign Language. She wants to work in a children’s hospital and play golf on a semi-professional level.
Caroline Lake graduated from Edgewood High School in Wisconsin where she was captain of the golf team, secretary of the Executive Council, and involved in several other clubs and sports teams.
Lake will attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she will get two degrees in Economics and Marketing.
Mikaela Livengood graduated from Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School in Iowa. She played golf and volleyball and was involved in several clubs as well as participated in school plays. Her senior class voted her “most musical”.
Livengood will be attending Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. She plans to major in Journalism/Communications and hopes to become a reporter for a news station or a writer in print media. She also plans to continue growing and encouraging other girls to get involved in the game.
Kalle Lunsford graduated from Evanston High School in Wyoming where she was captain of both the golf and basketball teams. Along with various other sports recognitions, she was named the Most Valuable Player in golf for three years in a row and won the Wendy Heisman Award.
Lunsford will be attending Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she plans to get a bachelor’s degree and is undecided on her major.
Maureen Madar graduated from Hudson High School in Ohio. She was captain of the golf and basketball and received Most Improved and the Coach’s Award for golf.
Madar will be attending Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where she plans to major in Pre-Medicine and Computer Science. Her goal is to become a leading female radiologist.
Sarah Noto graduated from Preparatory Academy in Lutz, Florida, where she played on the girls’ varsity team for four years. She also received of the Spirit/Encouragement award from the golf team.
Noto will be attending Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Her career goal is to help troubled youth, as a counselor or teacher.
Kayla Priebe graduated from Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Wisconsin where she was captain of the golf team for two years, editor on the yearbook committee, and participated in several
other academic clubs.
Priebe will be attending the University of Wisconsin where she will study accounting and pursue a career that will allow her to help others.
Lydia Randell graduated from Calvary Christian School in North Carolina where she played on several sports teams. She was a leader in the Save to Serve club and on the cheerleading squad. Randell was awarded for having the highest GPA in history and science.
Randell will be attending St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, where she will take business management classes. She has a dream of playing on the LPGA Tour.
Isabella Rusher graduated from Salisbury High School in North Carolina. There, she was captain of the golf team for four years, president of the National Honor Society, treasurer of the Student Government, and was secretary of the Spanish Club.
Rusher will be attending University of Richmond in Virginia where she will major in international business and minor in journalism. After that, she will obtain an MBA and pursue a career as a writer or editor.
Samantha Smith graduated from Bellaire High School in Texas where she was captain of the golf team, founder of the crotchet club, treasurer of the Spanish club, blogger for the Young Democrats, and an accomplished pianist.
Smith will be attending Princeton University. There, she will study biomedical engineering with plans to create more intricate prostheses that will allow athletes and others to move more naturally. She also wants to expand her crotchet initiative of Quilts for Cancer.
Cassidy Stephanek graduated from Vero Beach High School in Florida. She was vice president of the National Honor Society and was involved in the yearbook committee, competition drama troupe, and Superintendent’s Student Advisory Counsel.
Stephanek will be attending Oglethorpe University in Georgia where she plans to obtain her MBA with a minor in law. She has several careers goals and believes that the sky is the limit.
Micaa’ Thomas graduated from Archbishop Spalding High School in Maryland, where she was vice president of the National Honor Art Society, winner of Gold and Silver Key Scholastic Art and Writing awards. She was also inducted into the African-American High School and Collegiate Hall of Fame as “Youth Golfer of the Year”.
Thomas will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. There, she will study 3D animation with concentrations in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics.
Logan Tounget graduated from Ballinger High School in Texas. She played golf, basketball, and cross country. She was editor of the school newspaper, president of the rotary club, and board member of junior chamber.
Tounget will be attending Angelo State University in Texas, where she will major in nursing, specializing in neonatal nursing.
Hannah Travis graduated from Lancaster High School in Ohio. There she was involved in the National Honor Society, yearbook committee, Spanish club, and several other organizations.
Travis will be attending Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Her career goal is to become a Speech-Language Pathologist and work in a hospital or school.
Molly Becker graduated from Fridley High School in Minnesota where she was captain of the golf team, Fall and Winter dance teams, president of the National Honor Society, and involved in several other clubs.
Becker will be attending South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Minnesota, where she will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering and a graduate degree in biomedical engineering. She wants to design prostheses for veterans all over the world.
Riley Corona graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Arizona. She was co-captain of the golf team, executive event coordinator for the French club, and member of the drama club and National Honor Society.
Corona will be attending The College of William and Mary in Virginia. There, she will major in International Business and minor in either Economics or French. Her career goal is to become the head of a marketing department of a prominent company.
Mikayla Miller graduated from Copperas Cove High School in Texas where she was captain of the golf team, public relations officer of the Student Council, president and founder of EXCEL club, and co-treasurer of the National Honor Society.
Miller will be attending Southwestern University in Texas, where she will study pre-dentistry with plans to specialize in orthodontics.
Karen Valcarce graduated from Bountiful High School in Utah. There, she was captain of the golf team and a member of the National Honor Society. She received a gold award from US Figure Skating club and Bronze award from the Girl Scouts.
Valcarce will be attending Westminster University in Utah. She will obtain a bachelor’s degree in a science-related major.
OIivia Ruff graduated from Woodland High School in Illinois where she was captain of the golf team, secretary of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Student Council and Key Club, and yearbook editor for four years.
Ruff will be attending Illinois Wesleyan where she will study English and International Business with a minor focus in Spanish. Her goal is to be a successful businesswoman.
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