Rudd Foundation
The Rudd Foundation announce this week its third class of Rudd Scholars who will each receive a four-year college scholarship to attend either Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University or Wichita State University.
The Rudd Scholarship covers all remaining tuition and fees, books and supplies, and on-campus room and board after all other aid, grants, and scholarships are applied to a student’s account.
The expected value for all 30 winners over four years is $1.1 million.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the exceptionally high-caliber, well-rounded students that were chosen for this year’s Rudd Scholarship,” said Peter Najera, President of the Rudd Foundation. “By removing the financial burden of a college education, we expect these go-getters to be actively involved on campus, maintain good grades, and graduate in 4 years debt free.”
This year, 15 students will be going to Wichita State, 9 will attend Fort Hays State, and 6 will take their scholarship to Emporia State.
The Rudd Scholarship is earned through a competitive selection process that requires grades, test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, and for the 51 finalists a personal interview.
The application opened in the Fall and over 1300 students from all four corners of the state began the process.
“Kansas high schools continue to produce very talented young men and women imbued with the Midwestern values of grit, determination and work ethic and we are excited to make an investment in them through a college education,” Najera said. “These 30 Kansas recipients, in addition to the 46 previously selected, brings us to a total of 76 Rudd Scholars who could go anywhere but are choosing to study in-state. By retaining the talented and bright young individuals of the next generation, we believe that upon graduation they will serve to keep the talent pipeline strong in Kansas for many years to come.”
In addition to living on campus and carrying a full load of classes towards their college degree, scholars will receive mentoring and success coaching to help them graduate in four years.
They will also participate in many developmental activities outside the classroom, network with leaders in their future professions, build strong relationships among themselves, and serve to help the next generation of scholars through an active and connected alumni association after graduation.
“By this time next year, we will have nearly 100 Rudd Scholars preparing to be on campus and supporting one another,” Najera said. “Our hope is that they will continue to network with each other after graduation as they continue on their trajectory of being positive contributors to our Kansas communities and society as a whole.”
2020 Rudd Scholarship Winners:
Bittner, Danielle Rossville High School WSU
Brummer, Erica Tipton Catholic High School FHSU
Burns, Tyrell Wichita South High School WSU
Castanon, Ricardo Wichita East High School WSU
Cleary, Christine Clearwater High School WSU
Coleman, Jillian Salina South High School WSU
Combes, Quintin Lebo High School FHSU
Cookson, Ashley West Elk High School ESU
Crawford, Clara Ellis High School FHSU
Doudna, Cali Lebo High School ESU
Fleckenstein, Taryn Golden Plains High School FHSU
Foster, Sarah Rose Hill High School WSU
Hollingsworth, Bethany Elkhart High School WSU
Kogler, Kylee Southeast of Saline High School FHSU
Krohn, Laura Onaga High School FHSU
Lovett, Kaylee Salina South High School FHSU
Maydew, Kendra Smith Center Jr/Sr High School FHSU
McGivney, Makenna Abilene High School FHSU
Michaelis, Alia Andover High School WSU
Moore, Ebony Salina Central High School WSU
Morelli, Taylor Rossville High School ESU
Mosqueda, Jordy Wichita South High School WSU
Murphy, Blake Osage City High School ESU
Phanivong, Amanda Campus High School WSU
Ramirez, Mayra Great Bend High School WSU
Rodehorst, Jenna Rossville High School WSU
Rodriguez-Morales, Janet Wichita North High School WSU
Salazar, Noah Nickerson High School ESU
Sandy, Bayle Great Bend High School WSU
Sull, Kylee Northern Heights High School ESU
More information about the scholarship can be found online at ruddfoundation.org/college-scholarships.