Wooster students receive prestigious Dr. James B. Johnston Scholarships
Three first-year students at The College of Wooster received the Dr. James B. Johnston Scholarship through the SAGE Scholarship Educational Foundation.
Class of 2027 students Victoria Conner of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania; Philipp Drappatz of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Charlotte Mankovich of Murrysville, Pennsylvania, are among the 23 scholarship recipients nationwide who demonstrated academic excellence, exemplary leadership and a commitment to serving their communities.
The scholarship, named in honor of the founder of SAGE Scholars, James B. Johnston, Ed.D., exemplifies SAGE Educational Foundation’s unwavering dedication to empowering and supporting the next generation of scholars. “The foundation is honored to support their educational journey and believes in their potential to shape a brighter future,” said Aimee Gonthier, creative director of the foundation.
“It is a huge honor to receive this scholarship. Without the outside scholarships I’ve received, I wouldn’t be able to attend such an amazing institution,” Mankovich said. She chose to attend Wooster for its strong neuroscience program, supportive faculty, and welcoming community. “The phrase Independent Minds, Working Together that is part of the school’s values, resonated with her. Her intent to major in neuroscience stemmed from a curiosity about the connection between memory and the brain after seeing the impact of dementia on her 80-year-old grandfather. “The fact that our minds can deceive us in such a way became extremely interesting to me,” she explained.
For Drappatz, who plans to pursue a biology degree at Wooster and then attend medical school, the scholarship reduces his financial stress and allows him to focus on his studies. He chose Wooster for the outstanding academic opportunities, primarily the undergraduate research, but also to compete on the swim team. “Biology has always fascinated me, early on with animals and later with illness and medicine,” he said.
Photo: Charlotte Mankovich (left) and Victoria Conner (right)
Posted in News on September 8, 2023.
