Each year, a group of exceptional young women receive the incredible gift of a Salem College education with full, merit scholarships. Made possible by the generosity of Salem donors who sought to ensure a legacy of outstanding Salem College graduates, these scholarships represent more than $1 million in support over four years for these top deserving first-year students. 

The Robert E. Elberson Scholarship, established in 2013, is Salem’s highest prize of full tuition, room, and board over four years and also includes a semester of study abroad at Harlaxton College in the English Midlands. Utang Enyenihi, a graduate of Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tenn., is the 2014 recipient. Her academic interests range from English to social justice.

Salem’s oldest merit awards, the Lucy Hanes Chatham Scholarships, offer full tuition over four years and include the equivalent of one semester’s tuition for an approved study abroad program of the student’s choice. The 2014 recipients are Karina Gonzales of South Salem High School in Salem, Ore., and Alanna Natanson, a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School in Takoma Park, Md.

In addition, seven more first-year students were awarded merit scholarships. Students are judged on the basis of superior academic performance and evidence of leadership, responsibility, and concern for others. The following characteristics are also considered: initiative, motivation, creativity, resourcefulness, and vigor:

Emma Battle of Leesburg Christian School in Hamilton, Va., has been awarded an Edith Willingham Womble Full Tuition Scholarship

Anna Burks of Woodford County High School in Versailles, Ky., received an Edith Willingham Womble Full Tuition Scholarship

Nicole Keyser of Green Hope High School in Cary, N.C., has been awarded a Virginia Weyand Full Tuition Scholarship

Cynthia Suryawan of Challenge Early College High School in Houston, Tex., has been awarded an Elizabeth Whitaker Full Tuition Scholarship

Kendall Tate of Penn-Griffin School for the Arts in High Point, N.C., received an Edith Willingham Womble Full Tuition Scholarship

Samantha Werts of Mountain View High School in Tuscon, Ariz., has been awarded an Elizabeth Whitaker Full Tuition Scholarship

Anna Zhang of Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill, N.C., is the recipient of an Edith Willingham Womble Full Tuition Scholarship

Presidential scholarships, with varying levels of financial assistance, have also been granted to ten incoming students, who exhibit sound academic achievement, leadership qualities, and dedication to service:

Susannah Avy of Ronald Reagan High School in Pfafftown, N.C.

Jessi Bowman of Randleman High School in Randleman, N.C.

Brieanne Jansen of California Virtual Academy – San Joaquin in Manteca, Calif.

Karen Lambeth of Davidson Early College High School in Thomasville, N.C.

Mallory Long of Heritage High School in Wake Forest, N.C.

Peyton Parker of Ashley Ridge High School in Summerfield, S.C.

Britani Peterson of Calvary Baptist Day School in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Kelli Powers of South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, N.C.

MaKayla Schofield of East Ridge High School in East Ridge, Tenn.

Emma Stewart of Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, N.C.

This fall, Salem continues its 242-year tradition of providing an exceptional education for women. The incoming class of 2018 is the largest in the school’s history, with students rich in diversity from across the United States and around the world, and including nearly 50% first-generation college students. The generous support of Salem’s donors makes merit scholarship opportunities possible.

Published on June 16, 2014