Editor's Note: This is the third and final is a series
profiling Eastern Michigan University's newest Presidential
Scholars.
The Presidential Scholarship is a four-year award that
pays 30 credit hours (15 per semester) per year of in-state
tuition, housing and food allowance, and mandatory fees.
Students who receive these scholarships must live in University
residence halls the first two years of the award, complete
at least 15 credit hours per semester and maintain a 3.5
GPA.
Scholarship recipients are selected during EMU's annual
Presidential Scholarship Competition. Awards are based
on a competitive exam. To compete, high school seniors
must have either a 3.7 GPA or a 3.5 to 3.69 GPA with a
minimum 25 ACT or 1,150 SAT score. Each scholarship winner
also must complete a successful interview.
This year, 16 students were found deserving of the honor.
Profiles of the final six Presidential Scholars are provided
below.
Robieh Bou-Fakreddine (Milford, Mich.)
Thanks to the Presidential Scholarship, Robieh Bou-Fakreddine
doesn't have to worry about his finances. He can spend
his time worrying about other people's finances.
"I think I'm going to become an accountant," said Bou-Fakreddine. "It's
something I like to do. A friend was taking the class (accounting),
so I took it with him and it just stuck. I want to get
my CPA and maybe start my own firm."
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Bou-Fakreddine |
Bou-Fakreddine's interest in numbers began at an early
age. He attended a parochial elementary school that was
already a year ahead of the public school math programs.
And, thanks to an influential fifth-grade math teacher,
Bou-Fakreddine studied math at a level above even what
his classmates were studying.
"He realized that I was a lot more advanced than the other
students in his class. Since he could not give me more
advanced work outside of the class, nor could he put me
in a higher math class, he created a new teaching plan
for me and encouraged me to work hard," Bou-Fakreddine
said of his teacher. "I feel I should give him some credit
in my academic achievements."
And those achievements were many. Bou-Fakreddine has been
on the honor roll every year since elementary school, achieving
high honors his senior year, and graduating with a 3.61
GPA. In addition, he participated in tennis, quiz bowl,
German club and cleaned up rivers as part of the Huron
Valley Watershed Council.
At EMU, Bou-Fakreddine has played on an intramural soccer
league and is contemplating joining a fraternity. Mostly,
he has been focused on his studies.
"I like the smaller classes. I know most of my professors
and I communicate with them," said Bou-Fakreddine. "My
friends who go to larger schools don't have that kind of
running conversation with their teachers."
Nicholas Councilor (Big Rapids, Mich.)
Winning the Presidential Scholarship has given Nicholas
Councilor the opportunity to share his passion for music
with others.
"Although performing is a great interest, my ultimate
hope is to become a high school music teacher and inspire
young people with music," said Councilor.
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Councilor |
An accomplished saxophone player, Councilor is experienced
in both teaching and performing music. He has received
30 first-division ratings at district and state solo and
ensemble festivals; performed at the Michigan Youth Arts
Festival; and was selected as the winner of his high school's
annual concerto competition. His prize was premiering
a self-arranged solo. In addition, he has begun his career
in music education by teaching saxophone lessons to middle-school
students.
Not surprisingly, Councilor's biggest influence in high
school was a music teacher.
"My band director, Kent Boulton, has been a very influential
person in my life. He has inspired me to push my limits
and strive to be the best that I can," said Councilor. "He
was the first to encourage my application to Eastern Michigan
University and has been the single most important person
in my personal and musical growth."
Not only is Councilor an exceptional musician, he is a
good student as well. In high school, Councilor took several
Advanced Placement courses and earned a GPA of 3.96. He
was an active member of the National Honor Society and
competed on the forensics team.
"EMU has a diverse population that welcomes all sorts
of unique people for an exciting college experience," said
Councilor. "The campus is lovely and the staff seems highly
qualified. Furthermore, the music program is outstanding
and has stood out from other music schools."
(Katelyn Oberlee, White Lake, Mich.)
Katelyn Oberlee has chosen a career that hits close to
home: occupational therapy.
"My dad has Parkinson's disease, and I've always been
helping him with daily activities," said Oberlee. "I read
up on occupational therapy and it sounded a lot like what
I've always done with my dad."
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Oberlee |
Helping others comes naturally for Oberlee. In high school,
she volunteered for numerous organizations, including Toys
for Tots, the Michigan Parkinson's Foundation and Huron
Valley-Sinai Hospital.
She also was involved in school activities, taking Advanced
Placement classes and earning her varsity letter for wrestling.
She was on the honor roll for four years and graduated
with a 3.819 GPA.
Oberlee had been considering a couple of schools, and
was in the running for a similar scholarship at Central
Michigan University. Though she favored Eastern, winning
the Presidential Scholarship tipped the scales.
"I liked how close it was to home and how much nature
is visible on campus," said Oberlee. "Plus, everything
is centrally located. Some of the other schools I looked
at weren't really a campus; the classes were spread out
over town."
Oberlee was looking for a school that had a "high-school
feel," and is happy with her decision to attend EMU.
"Everybody's really friendly. Some of the professors are
outright hilarious," said Oberlee. "Most of them are really
interesting and passionate about their subjects. They really
want to get you interested in the subject. You get the
feeling that they're not just there because they have to
be."
Currently, Oberlee is keeping busy with her class work
and preparing for her wedding next summer.
Regina Royan (Howell, Mich.)
With medical school in her future, winning the Presidential
Scholarship has helped relieve some of Regina Royan's financial
burden.
"I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia when
I was three years old. Thanks to the prowess of a few exceptional
doctors, my chemotherapy was a success," said Royan. "The
opportunity I've had to view cancer on both ends of the
spectrum has led me to pursue a career in medicine."
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Royan |
Last year, Royan job-shadowed the doctors who treated
her. She liked what she saw, and is considering specializing
in surgery or oncology.
In addition to medicine, Royan also has interests in government
and international relations. She is currently double majoring
in biology and political science.
"I was on the fence about which one to choose," said Royan. "I
came in as a sophomore, so I had some extra credits to
play around with."
Royan's extra credits were due to Advanced Placement courses
that she took in high school. She graduated with a 3.717
GPA and was involved in a multitude of activities, including
basketball, volleyball, track, the school musical and Model
United Nations.
Royan has prepared herself for the responsibility of being
a doctor by taking on numerous responsibilities at her
high school. She was the student body president and chaired
many events, including the Homecoming Dance, Veteran's
Day assembly, Battle of the Bands and Senior Prom.
"It's been pretty easy to make the transition to EMU," said
Royan. "I'm really happy about my decision; it's been really
easy for me to get involved."
In her short time at EMU, Royan has already joined the
Student Senate, Pre-Med Club, Model United Nations, Honors
College and Delta Zeta sorority.
Heather Wade (Clinton Twp., Mich.)
EMU has long been Heather Wade's first choice of schools.
Even before winning the Presidential Scholarship, Wade
was attracted by EMU's reputation for teacher education.
"I am interested in careers that involve interaction with
other people," said Wade. "My ultimate goal is to be a
high school history teacher and, hopefully, someday to
teach honors or Advanced Placement History."
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Wade |
Her high school history teacher, who also was the adviser
for her school's chapter of the National Honor Society,
has influenced Wade's career aspirations.
"I have seen firsthand the difference a teacher can make,
or not make, in a student's life and I want nothing more
than to have a positive impact on a student's learning
and growth," said Wade.
Even while taking challenging accelerated and Advanced
Placement classes, Wade still managed to earn the highest
grade point average, 4.11, in her class. In addition, Wade
kept busy with numerous committees and clubs, including
Key Club, National Honor Society, Writer's Club, Drama
Club, quiz bowl and student government. She also looked
for outside opportunities to be involved in her community.
"I have also, with a close group of friends, committed
to doing at least five hours of community service every
month that is unrelated to school obligations," said Wade. "We
do things like work at soup kitchens and help out organizations
such as the Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul."
Wade hopes to continue to be involved in extracurricular
and service activities in college.
"I am extremely impressed with the refreshing variety
of activities offered to EMU students outside of their
regular classes," said Wade.
Ransom Brown (Coldwater, Mich.)
Running has taught Ransom Brown not to quit when he gets
tired, in any aspect of life.
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Brown |
"Through my running, I have learned that success is not
always comfortable," said Brown. "Achieving one's goals
takes much hard work in the form of immense pain, sweat
and tears."
During high school, Brown served as co-captain of both
the track and cross-country teams. He helped lead both
teams to successful finishes in state and regional championships.
In addition, Brown competed at state competitions as an
individual, placing fourth in the 1600 meters at the Michigan
Indoor Track & Field state finals.
But athletics are not the only activity in which Brown
excels.
Brown was a Presidential Scholar in high school. His school
gave that honor to those who maintained a GPA of 3.5 or
better while pursuing the most challenging academic courses
offered. Brown's high school GPA was 4.0.
"Academically, I have set high goals for myself and strive
to embody the true student-athlete, putting school before
sport," said Brown.
Brown was no slacker when it came to volunteering his
time to help others. He was involved with the Michiana
branch of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, mentored
weekly at a local elementary school and was an active member
and officer of Interact, a student organization dedicated
to serving the community,
Brown intends to continue helping others by pursuing a
career in audiology.
