Inquire Now

$80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship awarded to Aquinas High School Student

Monday, March 18, 2019

OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Faith Kozicek, of David City, Neb., as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. CSM presented Kozicek with a surprise scholarship check for $80,000 at Aquinas High School on Monday, March 18. She receives the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.

“Faith has demonstrated a strong aptitude for the content that I have taught [in my math] classes,” said April Sypal, a secondary mathematics teacher at Aquinas High School. “She is constantly working hard and is eager to help fellow classmates. Faith has all the required attributes of someone entering into the medical profession. She is intelligent and hardworking and has a strong desire to help others.”

College of Saint Mary’s prestigious Marie Curie Scholars Program, which is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, provides significant financial support and resources to outstanding young women pursuing study in STEM majors, such as biology, chemistry, or math.

Marie Curie Scholars receive up to $20,000 annually for four years in gift aid. In addition to having access to substantial financial resources and facilities, participants also receive free tutoring, have opportunities for undergraduate research, and have access to top programs like the National Institute of Health and NASA research fellowships. Marie Curie Scholars at CSM also often attend and present at national conferences.

Kozicek earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Aquinas High School. Some of Kozicek’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include:

  • National Honors Society Member (2017-19)
  • “A” Honor Roll (2016-19)
  • Four state medals and one state title
  • 2018 Angelic Doctor Top 10
     

At CSM, she plans to major in biology, starting in the fall of 2018.  Located in Omaha, in the heart of Aksarben Village, College of Saint Mary uses initiatives like the Marie Curie Scholar Program to provide women from all backgrounds with access to an affordable, excellent college experience, career-driven coursework, and lifelong leadership skills. She is one of five recipients of this year’s Marie Curie Scholarship.