Culver-Stockton College announces 68 Pillars for Excellence Program scholars

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College recently announced 68 high school seniors have been honored in this year’s Pillars For Excellence Program scholarship competition.

Of the 68 participants, four incoming freshmen have been awarded a full-tuition scholarship to the college through the program, which rewards academic excellence and demonstrated abilities to flourish in the curriculum at Culver-Stockton and in their future endeavors.

The four students receiving the full-tuition scholarships are:

• Cierra Bush of Taylor Ridge, Ill. Bush is a senior at Rockridge High School. She plans to major in accountancy and play softball at Culver-Stockton.
• Morgan Adams of Ottawa, Kan. A senior at Wellsville High School, Adams plans to major in biology/pre-optometry and also play softball at Culver-Stockton.
• Ava Kilburn of Macomb, Ill. Kilburn is a senior at West Prairie High School. She plans to major in nursing at Culver-Stockton.
• Elizabeth (Libby) Skaggs of Mansfield, Texas. Skaggs is a senior at Mansfield High School, where she has participated in the marching band. She plans to study political science at Culver-Stockton and continue with the college’s marching band.

To be eligible for the Pillars For Excellence Program, students must be accepted to Culver-Stockton College and have maintained at least a 3.75 cumulative grade point average in high school. During the competition, participants complete a tour of the campus with a college ambassador, attend a session with the Pillars Scholar committee, and submit an essay pertaining to a current event as assigned by the Pillars Scholar committee.

The remaining 64 Pillars Scholars all received additional scholarship aid.

Area students named as Pillars Scholars are:

• Ella Constable-Pittsfield High School
• Karli Dant-Highland High School
• Madison Epperson-Mark Twain High School
• Mackenzie Flachs-Quincy Notre Dame High School
• Maggie Foster-Triopia High School
• Skylar Gosney-Monroe City R-I High School
• Tabitha Haxel-Hannibal High School
• Tresa Huber-Scotland Co. R-I High School
• Ava Johnson-Quincy High School
• Cecilia Luengas-Illini West High School
• Logan Pieper-Quincy Notre Dame High School
• Katelyn Shelton-Knox County R-I High School
• Keaton Strange Knox County R-I High School
• McKinley Smith-Quincy Notre Dame High School
• Eli Stock-Triopia High School
• Addison Wetzel-Unity High School

In a press release, Douglas B. Palmer, president of Culver-Stockton College, said, “We congratulate all of our Pillars Scholars who dedicate themselves to their education and strive for excellence as they advance toward their future goals.”

In addition to scholarship funding, Pillars Scholars are automatically admitted into the college’s Honor’s Program, which includes a comprehensive leadership course, a service-project course, academic mentorship with a research project, special seminar and conference opportunities and recognition during Culver-Stockton’s commencement ceremony.

All Pillars Scholars receive an additional $500 in travel study grants to add to the $1,500 in grants they can accrue during their four years at Culver-Stockton. In total, Pillar Scholars can use the $2,000 in potential funding for any special fees associated with domestic or international travel courses.

As a member of the Honors Program, these students are provided both social and academic opportunities, including admission into the Culver-Stockton College LEADS Conference as well as participating in elite events together.