MECU Announces The Winners Of The 2012 Higher Learning Scholarship Program.

posted: 07/25/2012

For the second consecutive year, MECU is pleased to announce that six highly deserving students have been awarded college scholarships totaling $15,000. Co-sponsored by Liberty Mutual, MECU’s auto and home insurance provider, the MECU Higher Learning Scholarship Program was founded to reward students who exhibit a special passion and commitment to academic excellence.

Scholarship awards were based on academic achievement, recommendations from teachers and others, work experience and/or community involvement, and a personal essay in which students were asked to answer this question: “Henry David Thoreau said, ’Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.’ What is your something?”

“MECU takes great pride in being able to help today’s promising young scholars fully embrace their aspirations and pursue their dreams,” said John Fiore, MECU president and chief executive officer. “This year, the winners and applicants again demonstrated an impressive amount of inner drive and character. I look forward to hearing more about them in the future as they strive to fulfill their vast potential.”

The six recipients, chosen from among 134 applicants, were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The 2012 MECU Higher Learning Scholarship winners are Lydia Biggs of Suwanne, Ga., a graduate of Lambert High School; Paul Saramadis of LaGrange, Ill., a graduate of Lyons Township High School; Ginger Lu of Buffalo Grove, Ill., a graduate of Adlai E. Stevenson High School; Pratheek Nagaraj of Coral Springs, Fla., a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Monica Burckhardt of Arlington Heights, Ill., a graduate of John Hersey High School; and Kathryn Long of Boca Raton, Fla., a graduate of Coral Springs High School.

Lydia Biggs	Paul Saramadis	Ginger Lu
College: Georgia Southern Major: English Achievements: Governor’s Honors Program Nominee, AP Scholar with Honor, National Honor Society, Special Olympics Buddy Assistant Dream job: English teacher Would like to dine with: William Faulkner Bucket list: Visit Australia and see the Olympics one day Hobbies: Reading, baking, swimming, hanging with family	College: Northwestern Major: Biomedical engineering Achievements: National Merit Finalist, District IMEA Jazz Finalist, Excellence in Commentary Writing, Outstanding Senior in German Award Dream job: Nano medicine Would like to dine with: Grandfather who passed away Bucket List: Travel to every continent Hobbies: Running, playing piano, listening to jazz	College: Washington University in St. Louis Major: International business Achievements: Illinois State Scholar, Young Artists of America Gold Award, National Honor Society Gold Service Pin, 300 hours of community service Dream job: Anything involving traveling Would like to dine with: Albert Einstein Bucket list: Sky diving Hobbies: Painting
Pratheek Nagaraj	Monica Burckhardt	Kathryn Long
College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Major: Computer science/applied mathematics Achievements: National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar with Distinction and Honor, Presidential Volunteer Service Award, 825 hours of community outreach Dream job: Scientific research Would like to dine with: Albert Einstein Bucket list: Start my own company, travel the world, climb Mount Everest Hobbies: Game design, music composition	College: Rice Major: Architecture Achievements: Illinois State Scholar, President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor, National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in Writing Winner Dream job: Architect Would like to dine with: Aristotle Bucket list: Travel and backpack through Europe Hobbies: Art, math and science	College: Princeton Major: Economics or international relations Achievements: National Merit Scholarship, National AP Scholar, College Board AP Scholar with Distinction, Valedictorian, National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in Writing Winner Dream job: Work for an international charitable organization or a professor Would like to dine with: Eleanor Roosevelt  Bucket list: Travel Hobbies: Reading

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