Shorter University has announced recipients of its top academic scholarships for fall 2016. (Note: The students listed below provided information for release.)

EUBANKS SCHOLARSHIP

Middleburg, Fla., resident Courtney Bach has been selected to receive a J. Robert and Hazel B. Eubanks Scholarship to attend Shorter University in Rome, Ga. The Eubanks Scholarship provides tuition, room, and board for incoming freshmen for eight semesters. To qualify for this scholarship, a student must hold at least a 3.5 grade point average and a 1300 SAT (in critical reading and math) or 28 ACT score. Scholarship recipients must then maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Shorter.

Courtney Bach is the daughter of Mike and Ronda Bach, of Middleburg. She is a senior at Middleburg High School, where she will graduate among the top three of her class. During her senior year, she took 12 Honors classes, eight Advanced Placement classes, and two Dual Enrollment classes. She is currently serving as president of the Beta Club, vice president of the National Honors Society, captain of the Academic Team, and reporter for Future Business Leaders of America at both the high school chapter level and district level. She served as business editor on the yearbook staff during her junior and senior years and is student leader at First Baptist Church of Middleburg. As a freshman, Courtney was a defensive specialist on the freshman volleyball team and a junior varsity weightlifter. As a sophomore, she was a defensive specialist on the junior varsity volleyball team, a varsity weightlifter, and center on the varsity flag football team. An active volunteer, Courtney has helped run the Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital annual bass tournament for three years, led elementary age students in Vacation Bible School, and taken part in mission trips to Mandan, N.D.; Mobile, Ala.; and Charleston, S.C. She has also worked as a volunteer with local food banks, orphanages, clothes closets, elderly families, veterans, and the cancer society. She holds a 40-course-hour certification in Early Childhood Education from the Department of Children and Family. From 2014 to 2016, she has worked on the childcare team at KidsFirst Learning Center in Middleburg.

PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Presidential scholarship recipients include Fyfee, Ala., resident Jacee Guinn; Wills Point, Texas, resident Lauren Jendrzejewski; Lawrenceville, Ga., resident Maekenzi Johnson; Dunwoody, Ga., resident Marie Williams; and Rome resident Alexis “Lexi” Wright. The presidential scholarship provides tuition for incoming freshmen for eight semesters. To qualify for this scholarship, a student must hold at least a 3.5 grade point average and a 1100 SAT (in critical reading and math) or 24 ACT score. Scholarship recipients must then maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade point average at Shorter.

Jacee Guinn is the daughter of Jonathan Guinn and Sherrie Bannister and is a senior at Cornerstone Christian Academy, where she is valedictorian of the 2016 graduating class. She serves as editor of the school newspaper, a member of the Senior Beta Club, and captain of the Scholars Bowl team. She won first place in the DeKalb County Voice of Democracy Essay Contest. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa at Northeast Community College, where she has been completing dual enrollment coursework.

Lauren Jendrzejewski is the daughter of Rodney and Natosha Jendrzejewski of Wills Point. She is graduating with honors from Wills Point High School. She has been involved in competitive theatre for the last four years, taking home both Best Supporting Actress and All Star Cast awards. She has received four Who’s Who awards and was an Honor Junior. Lauren also has been very involved with her youth group, serving as a small group leader and attending for six years. She taught Vacation Bible School and was a Shepherd at Preteen Camp.

Maekenzi Johnson is the daughter of Pam Johnson and Greg Johnson. She is a senior at Mountain View High School, where she will be an honor graduate and has made the honor roll. Maekenzi has served as a page in the United States Senate, an Awana leader, a member of the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team and a former student body president. In addition, she completed Bear Leadership Training, is a peer leader at Mountain View High School, and has served as president of the Gwinnett County Bar Association Law Explorers Program. She has completed more than 200 hours of community service.

Marie Williams is the daughter of Tim and Cathy Williams, of Dunwoody. She is a senior at Dunwoody High School, from which she will graduate with honors. Marie has been actively involved in the Dunwoody Baptist Church (DBC) Revolve Student Ministry since sixth grade. She serves as a small group leader for eighth grade girls and has led children’s worship services since 2010. She served on the DBC student mission team to Toronto for three years and plans to return this summer. She works as a DBC Camp Unite counselor during the summer. From 2009 to 2014, she received the Presidential Service Award in recognition of her more than 75 hours of community service each year. She currently volunteers approximately 100 hours to her time each year and has earned between 1,300 and 1,400 hours of community service since sixth grade.

Lexi Wright is the daughter of Charles and Melanie Wright and a senior at the Georgia Connections Academy. Her father is a 1995 graduate of Shorter. Lexi is a member of Pure Life, the youth group of Floyd Springs Baptist Church; she also serves as the group’s music leader. In addition, she serves as secretary of Georgia Connections Academy’s National Honor Society and editor of the school’s student magazine.

ALFRED SHORTER/PROVOST SCHOLARSHIPS

Recipients of the Alfred Shorter/Provost Scholarship include Rockmart, Ga., resident Logan Brookshire; Trion, Ga., resident Lauren Causey; and Manchester, Tenn., resident Gavin Husted. This scholarship provides three-quarters of tuition for incoming freshmen for eight semesters. To qualify for this scholarship, a student must hold at least a 3.5 grade point average and an 1100 SAT (in critical reading and math) or 24 ACT score. Scholarship recipients must then maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at Shorter.

Logan Brookshire is the son of Julie and Timmy Brookshire. He is a senior at Rockmart High School, where he was named STAR student.

Lauren Causey is the daughter of Eric and Shelley Brown. She is a senior at Trion High School, where she has been received an academic “T” all four years of high school. She was named to the honor roll for both her freshman and sophomore years and served as a junior marshal during her junior year. She is a member of the ACT 25% Club, Journalism Club, Spanish Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Beta Club, and Mu Alpha Theta. An active volunteer, Lauren has worked with the Shining Stars special needs team at Hot Shots Cheerleading, helping the group members learn their routine and raising money for the team’s travel expenses. She helped raise money for breast cancer awareness and volunteered at Relay for Life. She participates in Trion City School’s toy drive and Angel Tree drives each year.

Gavin Husted is the son of Brian and Michelle Husted, of Manchester. The Coffee County Central High School senior plans to play baseball for the NCAA Division II Shorter Hawks baseball team. A 4.0 student, Gavin ranked in the top 10 percent of his class at Coffee County Central, where he played football and baseball all four years. Gavin served as a member of the Student Government for four years, including serving as Student Body President during his senior year. He is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Leadership Club, and the Beta Club. He is a Student Ambassador for the Coffee County School Board and has been involved in and led various community service projects in Manchester.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best Southeastern Colleges. Shorter University is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Shorter offers traditional bachelor’s degree program in 50 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and four master’s programs.

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