“I’m thrilled to attend Wichita State in the fall as an applied sustainability and environmental engineering major with a minor in leadership through the Honors College. This scholarship is truly going to take the weight of the expense of college off the shoulders of my family and myself,” shared Karaline Scott, Goddard High School (GHS) senior. Scott was recently awarded the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship from Wichita State University (WSU). One of the largest scholarships in the state of Kansas, the Gore Scholarship includes $64,000 ($16,000/academic year) and was granted to three recipients this year: Karinton Newton (Summit Christian Academy - MO), Karaline Scott (Goddard High School - KS), and Chloe Strecker (Eureka High School - MO).
The Gore Scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen at WSU on the basis of leadership potential. In order to be considered for this honor, top-performing students from all across the country competed in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational. The prerequisites required for eligibility for this scholarship are: a 27+ ACT score, 3.5+ GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. After successfully taking part in the Invitational in November of last year, alongside almost 550 other students, Scott was named one of just thirteen finalists to be invited in for final interviews. “Karaline has strong communication skills, and is a motivator with a vision. She has incredible work ethic, integrity and leads by example, maintaining confidence and humility in equal measure,” expressed Patty Frame, GHS varsity cheer coach and mentor.
Another personal mentor to Scott, Gail Jamison, 2022-23 President of USD 265 BOE, shared, “Karaline is passionate about helping all students become connected and engaged in the school community. I believe WSU will offer Karaline unlimited opportunities to learn from others, collaborate and continue to grow as a leader.” Scott will continue to work alongside Jamison, as well as USD 265 staff and volunteers, during her spring semester internship with the Community Relations Department at the USD 265 District Office. In addition to this experiential learning opportunity, Scott has also been the head drum major for the Lion Pride Marching Band for three years and is currently the varsity cheer captain. She acted as the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) representative for GHS in 2022, and is also involved in National Honors Society, Science Club, Student Council, her church’s youth group, and sits on the USD 265 District Student Advocacy Board.
As Scott officially accepted her scholarship during a press conference on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 1st, held at WSU’s Marcus Welcome Center, she expressed her gratitude to not only the Gore family and WSU staff, but all of her supporters over the years. “I want to thank my family for their endless love and support, my teachers and friends, and the 544 other competitors. I have learned so much and made lifelong friends.” Scott also shared what drew her to WSU, and how she felt about attending a school close to home. “The teacher-to-student ratio, along with the campus culture, and the general feel of Wichita State are a few of the reasons I decided to consider WSU for my college education, and I’m so glad that I did. It’s not about how far from home you are, it’s about how at home you feel on campus.”
