[ back ]
Scholarships take graduating seniors far
(by Sue Hoffman - May 04, 2011)
Scholarships take graduating seniors far
By SUE HOFFMAN
Solon High School senior Tayler Waters Perry was all smiles when she put pen to paper to indicate the college she will attend next fall: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee.
"I wanted to do something different," Tayler said. "I like the location, and they have a great marching band. They played at President Obama's inauguration." Florida A&M is also one of the nation's historically black colleges and universities, which appealed to her, she said.
A member of the Solon varsity basketball team and marching band with a 3.8 average, Tayler won a full-tuition scholarship to the university as well as the National Merit Corp.'s National Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding black students. She aims for a career in computer science or engineering.
Tayler was one of hundreds of seniors at the high school who participated in college signing day last Friday. Fashioned after the events when high school athletes sign letters of intent to play sports in colleges, the special day allows seniors to have their photos taken while signing certificates indicating where they will attend college. The certificates were posted in the school.
May 1 is the traditional decision day when students need to make a commitment to a college or university by placing a non-refundable deposit.
"This class did their homework and research," guidance department chairwoman Anne Johns said. "They started the process early, and that helped them find the right match. They considered all the facts, including the economic piece. I think the kids did their job well. They worked with their counselors to identify the best possible choice for them."
In the high school senior commons, students donned their college T-shirts and regalia as they sat down to lunch.
Melanie Roytman, Rachel Rzepka and Natalie Wheeler are traveling in different directions next year.
Melanie said she will attend Miami University in Oxford. "It's a good school for me," she said. "It has good academics, and it's smaller than Ohio State." The university was also a good economical choice over a much more expensive college she had been considering.
Rachel said she will be studying fashion merchandising at Ohio University. "It's close to home and I have friends there," she said.
"It's the No. 1 co-op in the country," Natalie said about her choice, Northeastern University in Boston. The university offers a cooperative education program that provides real-world experience, she said. Natalie, a member of National Honor Society, will major in communications and minor in science.
The day he received word about a full-tuition scholarship was one of the best days of his life, said Dalton Perry, who will attend the leadership academy at Bowling Green State University.
"I was elated," Dalton said. "They called me on a Friday and I missed the call." He called them back to learn he will be in the 2011 cohort group at the academy, which aims to develop leadership skills while helping the surrounding community.
The captain of the cross country team, Dalton has already shown his leadership skills as a basketball and soccer coach for fifth- and sixth-graders through the Solon Recreation Department. The basketball team he coached won the championship, he said.
Elysha Rothenberg showed her joy when she signed to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. "It's been my dream school since I was a freshman," she said. "It is a beautiful school and a fantastic school."
An aspiring orthodontist, Elysha will major in biology with a predental concentration in Cornell's college of human ecology. A member of drama club and show choir, Elysha has earned her place at an Ivy League school with numerous achievements. She has maintained a 4.3 average, was named an Advanced Placement Scholar with distinction and won the Wesleyan University Book Award for leadership, academic achievement and interest in the arts.
Luke Coan was delighted to sign up with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he will major in violin performance. A member of Cleveland Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Solon Philharmonic Orchestra and the high school's Symphonia, Luke had to audition to be accepted at the conservatory.
"It was fortunate I got in," Luke said. "It's an incredible school. I'm going into violin performance in hopes of landing an orchestra job. I want to develop my skills and grow as a musician and person."
[ back ]
