Erskine College selects seven for top scholarships
Three Presidential and four Solomon Scholarship winners, who will join the student body in the fall of 2021, have been announced at Erskine College. They will be members of the Class of 2025.
The Presidential Scholarship is the highest scholarship award offered at Erskine College, and covers tuition, required fees, and room and board, minus any state, federal, and outside scholarships and grants. It is renewable for a total of four years. The Presidential winners are John Paul Bell, Jr., Jonathan David Claxton, and Emily Grace Stanton.
John Paul Bell, Jr. of Due West, S.C., is a homeschooled student whose interests include chemistry, music, and engineering. A participant in the Due West Robotics program for the past eight years, he was recently recognized for his leadership and contributions to the team. A Boy Scout since second grade, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15. He has been involved in jazz band, track, and cross country at Dixie High School in Due West. At his church, he has enjoyed youth choir and served as a music leader, has taught vacation Bible school, and has volunteered for five consecutive years in mission trips to Appalachia. His areas of musical experience include voice, bass, guitar, piano, and saxophone.
Jonathan David Claxton of Albemarle, N.C., is a student at Greyfriars Classical Academy, where he is a member of the Performing Arts Club, serves on the yearbook crew, participates in after-school sports, assists in his school’s fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations, and serves as a volunteer in the Charlotte area. He is active in his church, where he plays the piano for worship services. Through his church, he has worked with a local homeless shelter and volunteered in other outreach programs. He has also played competitively in summer-league baseball.
Emily Grace Stanton of Pelzer, S.C., is a homeschooled student who attended biology and chemistry labs on the Erskine campus during her freshman and sophomore years of high school. “I enjoyed the way the professors and teachers interacted with the students,” she says of that experience. She has strong interests in the areas of biology and music and has played acoustic guitar for six years. She has played volleyball and basketball for three years. At her church, in addition to involvement in Bible study, she plays in a string ensemble and is a member of the honors group in her youth group.
The Solomon Scholarship covers up to 16 credit hours of tuition per semester and is renewable for a total of four years. The Solomon winners are Sydney Elizabeth Carter, Iulia Maria Goean, Hailey Faith James, and Joseph Archer Suddeth.
Sydney Elizabeth Carter of Huntersville, N.C., is a student at Southlake Christian Academy. She is interested in biology and hopes to go on to medical school to become a pediatric oncologist. At her school, she is vice president of a student missions fellowship, serves as an “older sister” to younger girls, and plays in the Chapel Band. Her musical experience includes participation in choir and musical theater and playing the ukulele and guitar.
Iulia Maria Goean of Boca Raton, Fla., is a student at Paideia Classical Academy. At her school, she was captain of one of the two “houses” comprising the middle school, and also started a strategy game club. She has participated in a monthly Family Game Night at her church. She dreams of someday opening a café dedicated to the ancient art of “Schole,” or “restful learning,” which she describes as including “good conversation, good food and drink, and good friends.” She was drawn to Erskine College because of its small size and “commitment both to the classical tradition and to Christ.”
Hailey Faith James of Beaufort, S.C., is a student at Holy Trinity Classical Christian School, where she is a member of the Mu Alpha Theta club and organized an annual Christmas fundraiser and service project with the local Rotary Club. She was chosen by her school’s faculty to be one of the first junior marshals for graduation. At her church, she is a leader of small groups for middle school girls and serves as a worship leader. She is interested in biochemistry and hopes to pursue a career in forensic analysis.
Joseph Archer Suddeth of Due West, S.C., is a student at Dixie High School, where he has played in the band and was chosen for All-State Band. He has served in student government and was inducted into Beta Club and National Honor Society. His other school activities have included basketball, fishing team, football, soccer, and wrestling. He has been active in Boy Scouts and in community service projects such as the town clean-up. He is interested in majoring in biology and going on to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon. He sings in the youth choir at his church. In addition to voice, his other musical interests include trombone and guitar.
