Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program

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TOP CONSERVATIVE STUDENT ACTIVISTS AWARDED $265,500 IN 9TH ANNUAL PHILLIPS FOUNDATION RONALD REAGAN COLLEGE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeff Hollingsworth, 202-842-2002 

WASHINGTON, DC, April 24, 2008 --- The Phillips Foundation today announced the winners of $265,500 in merit-based scholarships for academic year 2008-09 under its Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program. Established in 1999, the Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program offers renewable and one-time scholarships to the “Top 100” college undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional achievements as campus leader-activists against collegiate “political correctness” and ideological conformity, and for freedom, American values, and Constitutional principles. 

There are 57 first-time scholarship winners and 26 students receiving scholarship renewals for academic year 2008-09. Renewable scholarships are awarded to sophomores at the start of their junior year. They may seek a renewal for the senior year. One-time awards are made to current juniors for their senior year. 

Samantha Soller, Toms River, N.J., a junior at Bucknell University, was designated the $10,000 Barbara Olson Memorial Scholarship winner. Named for the attorney, author and commentator who died September 11, 2001, in the hijacked airliner that crashed into the Pentagon, the honor is reserved for an outstanding female undergraduate exhibiting qualities of leadership, scholarship, and activism in Mrs. Olson’s tradition. 

The Phillips Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 to advance Constitutional principles, a democratic society, and a vibrant free enterprise system. In addition to the Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program, the Foundation administers an annual journalism fellowship program which provides grants to print and on-line journalists early in their careers. 

Recipient of a one-time $10,000 scholarship:

  • Samantha Soller, Toms River, N.J., a junior at Bucknell University.

Recipients of renewable $5,000 scholarships:

  • Justin Bryant, Olympia, Wash., a University of Washington sophomore,
  • Jeffrey Fraser, Ft. Wayne, Ind., an Indiana University sophomore,
  • Katie Geary, Eau Claire, Wis., a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire,
  • Eric J. Hamilton, Omaha, Neb., a University of Nebraska sophomore,
  • Maleah Huggins, Gooding, Idaho, a Cascade College sophomore,
  • Sarah A. Schubert, Butler, Pa., a Bucknell University sophomore,
  • Vikram Srinivasan, Cupertino, Calif., a Duke University sophomore.

Recipients of one-time $5,000 scholarships:

  • Francis Anello, Williamstown, Vt., a Norwich University junior,
  • Jessica Austin, Redlands, Calif., a University of Redlands junior,
  • Rebecca Beach, Great Meadows, N.J., a Patrick Henry College junior,
  • Jonathan J. Bell, Jefferson City, Mo., a Rockhurst University junior,
  • Patrick C. Casten, Pittsburgh, Pa., a Lake Forest College junior,
  • Carl Forsberg, Mendota Heights, Minn., a junior at Yale University,
  • Catherine “Paige” Hallen, Dunwoody, Ga., a Wofford College junior,
  • William J. Haun, South Windsor, Conn., a junior at American University,
  • Eric Lansing, Dinwiddie, Va., a junior at Patrick Henry College,
  • Dennis Lennox, II, Topinabee, Mich., a junior at Central Michigan University,
  • Bennett Rawicki, Bakersfield, Calif., a University of Dallas junior,
  • Ryan Sawtelle, Calabasas, Calif., a Pepperdine University junior,
  • Tom Walker, Edmonds, Wash., a University of Washington junior,
  • Nathaniel Zebrowski, San Jose, Calif., a junior at Northwestern University.

Recipients of renewable $2,500 scholarships:

  • Erika J. Barger, Ormond Beach, Fla., a Georgetown University sophomore,
  • A. Barrett Bowdre. Birmingham, Ala., a Furman University sophomore,
  • Kathleen Bracken, Sterling, Va., a sophomore at the University of Virginia,
  • Jillian M. Cunningham, San Mateo, Calif., a Wellesley College sophomore,
  •  Katelyn Ferral, New Franken, Wis., a Marquette University sophomore,
  • Ross D. Jacobs, Wilmette, Ill., a sophomore at Bowdoin College,
  • Siobhan O’Malley, Topsfield, Mass., a sophomore at Middlebury College,
  • Lauren O’Reilly, McPherson, Kansas, a Missouri State University sophomore,
  • Matthew Sauvage, St. Charles, Iowa, a George Washington University sophomore.

Recipients of one-time $2,500 scholarships:

  • Sara Mikolajczak, Menomonee Falls, Wis., University of Wisconsin-Madison junior,
  • Christina Miller, Hampstead, N.H., a junior at Hillsdale College.

Recipients of renewable $1,000 scholarships:

  • Michael J. Carter, San Jose, Calif., a sophomore at Washington University-St. Louis,
  • Jacob R. Danner, Woodbury, Minn., a sophomore at Gustavus Adolphus College,
  • Nicolette D. Georgacakis, Spring Branch, Texas, a Patrick Henry College sophomore,
  • Joshua Gibbs, Alpine, Calif., a Patrick Henry College sophomore,
  • David Guthrie, Columbus, Ohio, a Hillsdale College sophomore,
  • Brian R. Hackett, Monroe Township, N.J., a sophomore at the College of New Jersey,
  • Paul R. A. Janzen, Happy Valley, Ore., a Patrick Henry College sophomore,
  • Jonathan E. Maddison, Voorhees, N.J., a Rutgers University sophomore,
  • Mireille M. Manzone, Dover, Mass., a Boston College sophomore,
  • Andrew McIndoe, Oak Ridge, N.C., a sophomore at Grove City College,
  • John B. Moore, IV, a sophomore at Bryan College,
  • Allison S. Rhines, Portland, Ore., a sophomore at Stanford University,
  • Jonathan A. Slemrod, Ann Arbor, Mich., a University of Michigan sophomore,
  • Rebekah L. Turner, Raymond, Wash., a Bob Jones University sophomore,
  • Andrew Tutt, Davis, Calif., a Duke University sophomore,
  • Michael Warren, Grayson, Ga., a sophomore at Vanderbilt University,
  • Ilan Wurman, Palo Alto, Calif., a sophomore at Claremont-McKenna College.

Recipients of one-time $1,000 scholarships:

  • Derek R. Archer, Barberton, Ohio, a Patrick Henry College junior,
  • Paula A. Barrett, Madison Heights, Mich., a junior at Wayne State University,
  • Julianna D’Amico, Troy, Mich., a junior at Hillsdale College,
  • Michael Rasmussen, Willowbrook, Ill., a junior at Eureka College,
  • Jared R. Rispens, Lansing, Ill., a Calvin College junior,
  • Sarah Schmidt, Omaha, Neb., a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
  • Jordan N. Smith, Senath, Mo., a Murray State University junior.


The Trustees renewed the scholarships of 26 students who received awards under the program last year. They are:

  • $7,500 scholarships: Juniors Emily Echols, Winterville, Ga. (Bryan College), Nicholas G. Hahn, Chagrin Falls, Ohio (DePaul University), andCarl J. Kelm, Modesto, Calif. (Stanford University).
  • $5,000 scholarships: Juniors Faith Ammen, Roanoke, Va.(Bryan College), Robert Taylor Hall, Knoxville, Tenn.(Furman University), Daniel T. Infield, Colgate, Wis. (Stetson University), Benjamin Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (University of Iowa), Peter Johnston, Atlanta, Ga. (Yale University), Anna Kim, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (Tufts University), Anthony E. Listi, Dallas, Texas (Texas A & M University), Charissa E. Lloyd, Dallas, Texas (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill), and Billy Valentine, Alexandria, Va. (Franciscan University of Steubenville).
  • $2,500 scholarships: Juniors Kyle Bristow, Clinton Township., Mich. (Michigan State University), Daniel M. Byler, Parkersburg, W. Va. (College of William & Mary), Dayton Headlee, Omaha, Neb.(University of Nebraska), Lillian Moore, Prineville, Ore. (Bryan College), Elizabeth Morgan, Sammamish, Wash. (Smith College), Edwin Ohanian, Woodland Hills, Calif. (University of California-Irvine), Michael L. Pomeranz,Chicago, Ill. (Yale University), Andrew Post, Prior Lake, Minn. (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities), Robert A. Rankey, II, Bay City, Mich.(Ferris State University), Benjamin Seale, Happy Valley, Ore. (Pepperdine University), Terrance P. Sullivan, Milford, N.J. (Hood College), andNatalie Vernon, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (University of Pennsylvania).
  • $1,000 scholarships: Juniors Ethan Evans, West Chester, Ohio (Miami University of Ohio), and Eric M. Wind, Manitowoc, Wis. (Georgetown University).

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