Lemont Graduates Awarded Prestigious Scholarships

Three members of Lemont High School's Class of 2013 were awarded prestigious scholarships this spring through their respective colleges.

Kim Gannon, Jonathon Clark and Keaton Wall all secured highly coveted scholarships, due largely to their outstanding academic and curricular achievements throughout their high school careers.

Kim Gannon, Michigan State University

Kim Gannon will head to Michigan State University this fall after securing the school's most prestigious and competitive academic award, the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship.

Gannon was one of only 16 students to receive the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room and board, and a stipend for up to eight semesters of study. Winners were selected from a pool of 1,100 high school seniors from more than 35 states, according to Michigan State officials.

Students receiving the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship are members of the selective Honors College program and also receive a two-year paid research assistantship in a discipline of their choice. The scholarships are among the most
valuable awards offered by any university, with a current value of over
$190,000 for an out-of-state student.

Scholarship winners are chosen by a committee comprised of faculty and administrators after taking an intensive general knowledge examination. The committee also considers high school programs and achievement, other standardized test scores and interviews of the finalists. 

Alumni Distinguished Scholars have an average GPA of 4.3, an average ACT score of 35 (out of 36) and an average SAT score of 1520 (out of 1600). 

During her time at Lemont, Gannon earned a spot in the top 2 percent of her class and was a National Merit Scholarship finalist, a national runner-up in the American Islamic Congress essay competition, a Mathletes state qualifier and a winner of the VFW "Voice of Democracy" writing competition. She also participated in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, the school literary magazine, Model United Nations and girls swimming.

Gannon will study economics and public policy at Michigan State.

Jonathon Clark, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jonathon Clark was recently named a recipient of the William J. Cook Scholarships on behalf of the Chicago Community Trust.

The $4,800 scholarship, renewable for up to four years, is granted to students showing exemplary academic and leadership skills. 

Clark graduated from Lemont with a 4.25 cumulative GPA and ranked among the top 2 percent of his class. He was an Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society president, a math and writing tutor, and a leader in his school's Physical Education Department.

He plans to pursue a degree in political science.

Keaton Wall

Keaton Wall was awarded the Colonel Henry Crown Scholarship (Junior Achievement), which totals $20,000—$5,000 a year for a four-year period while the student is pursuing a dress at an accredited college or university.

The scholarship also includes paid attendance at a summer internship program (three summers at 10 weeks each) with a Henry Crown-affiliated company or an agency supported by Crown Family Philanthropies.

Wall earned his scholarship in part through his work in Lemont's award-winning Junior Achievement program, "Inkspot," a magazine written, produced and marketed by students.

Wall served as president each of his last two years.

He plans to attend the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which he received the Dean's Scholarship, which could be worth up to $16,500 over three years.