$80,000 Marie Curie Scholarship awarded to Scotus Central Catholic student
OMAHA, NEB. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) has selected Kendra Wiese, of Columbus, Neb., as a Marie Curie Scholar, starting in the fall. CSM presented Wiese with a surprise scholarship check for $80,000 at Scotus Central Catholic High School on Tuesday, March 27. She receives the scholarship after standing out in academic talent and showing outstanding leadership service.
“Kendra has always been the student to go the extra mile,” said Joan Lahm, a Scotus Central Catholic educator. “She is easy to visit with and would have a great demeanor with patients and staff in a health science career.”
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.
Wiese earns the scholarship after achieving several honors at Scotus Central Catholic. Some of Wiese’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments include:
- NCPA Academic All State (Golf 2016-17, Basketball ’17, Soccer ’17)
- Academic All-Conference (2015-17)
- National Honors Society Member (2015-18)
- Elks Teenager of the Month (2017)
Additionally, Wiese served in several leadership roles while at Scotus Central Catholic, including serving the community as a Certified Nursing Assistant and working at a nursing facility in Columbus.
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.
