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News and Happenings From the Lenfest Foundation Summer 2007

We recently spent the day at Villanova University with more than 30 of our Lenfest Scholars. Marguerite and I came away as impressed as ever by the students and their hard work and “These are achievements. The day is always a highlight of our year because of the opportunity to talk with the Scholars. You can read a little more about the day inside the Connection.

incredible We had started work on a website to connect our Scholars before meeting with the students. But the conversations we had reinforced the idea behind LenfestScholars.org. These are incredible students and we students and we want to do everything we can to help them succeed and to help each other succeed. We hope the website becomes another resource to help students excel. want to do We are proud to welcome the latest Lenfest College Preparatory Program and Lenfest College Scholarship Program recipients. You can meet the students inside. everything we We await their fine work. Thanks for your support and for taking time with this edition of the Connection. can to help Have a safe summer. Thanks for reading. them succeed...”

Gerry Lenfest

LenfestScholars.org to Offer Networking Opportunities The Lenfest Foundation is developing a website to pro- site will also include a message board for Scholars and mote networking among Lenfest Scholars. staff.

LenfestScholars.org is expected to be available by mid- "With so many great Scholars doing wonderful things, we summer. The site will serve as a resource for students wanted to create a way for the students to connect with past and present to learn about the activities of Scholars, each other at their convenience and share experiences," college selection ideas and internship and job opportuni- said Foundation Executive ties. Director Bruce Melgary. "We think this site will become a Portions of the site will be password-protected and avail- vital part of what being a able only to Lenfest Scholars and Foundation staff. The Lenfest Scholar is all about." continued on page 8 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 2

Lenfest Scholar Pursuing Lifelong Dream to Lead Classroom

Since the age of 5, Lenfest Scholar University that will enable him to pursue a Ph.D. John Isaac Wesley Payne (called Wes by everyone), knew he wanted You might say teaching is in Wes' blood. Growing up, he to be a teacher. The 22-year-old was home schooled from the ages of 3 to 7 by his moth- computer and math whiz is well on er, who has a Bachelor's degree in Education and his way to realizing that dream. taught at the elementary and middle school level.

"It's pretty much been a calling of Wes graduated from Waynesboro High School in 2003 sorts," said Wes from his dorm room with a 4.4 grade point average (out of 4.4) and was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute named Class Valedictorian. He received a Lenfest in Troy, New York. "With the help and College Scholarship to Rensselaer and credits the Wes Payne support of the Lenfest Foundation, I Lenfest Foundation with giving him the support needed feel I'm on the right path. They gave to help him and his parents pick the right university and me the emotional and financial support needed to major. achieve my goal of teaching at the university level," "Roger Lehecka was my primary contact. If we had any Wes graduated in May with a dual Bachelor of Science issues, we gave him a call. He served as a great sup- degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and a port system," Wes said. Masters degree in Applied Mathematics. While at Rensselaer, Wes gained practical experience as a In addition to hitting the books, Wes kept busy at Teaching Assistant, holding recitations, office hours Rensselaer by serving as membership chair of the com- and grading homework assignments. puter science honor society Upsilon Pi Epsilon and par- ticipating in Math Club, a mathematics modeling com- A dual degree from Rensselaer isn't enough for Wes. He petition. He also played intramural soccer. recently received a full fellowship from Carnegie Mellon

Foreign Language Is the Calling for West Coast Scholar Brent Burkhart, 20, was among the first class of mentors helped me find this Lenfest College Preparatory Scholars selected back in nice, small liberal arts school 2002 and he was the first to go to a West Coast col- where I get one-on-one time lege. with professors. It's been great." Holding down a major in Foreign Language and International Affairs with a minor in French, Brent Brent credits the Lenfest recently finished his sophomore year at the University team for supporting him of Puget Sound (UPS) in Tacoma, Washington and through the entire process. headed to Taiwan to continue his studies at Tunghai University in Taichung. In the fall of this year and "I've had several mentors spring of 2008, he plans to further his studies at through Carol and Arnold Brent Burkhart Beijing Waiguoyu Daxue under a Columbia University Hillman, a clear champion of the program. program. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Lenfest step in himself and give students advice on Brent comes from the small town of St. Thomas in the how to conduct finances and apply to colleges." Tuscarora School District. In 10th grade, through the Lenfest program, he transferred from the public This past summer, Brent was appointed to oversee High School to the private Westtown Conference Services at UPS and was able to visit with School. his girlfriend, also a UPS student, who is from Hawaii.

"I credit my 8th grade English Teacher, Jeanette Upon graduation, he envisions himself teaching Edelman, for stepping in and realizing I needed a English in China or Taiwan or working at a translation more diverse educational environment," said company. Burkhart from his dorm room at UPS. "My Lenfest 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 3

Greencastle-Antrim Valedictorian Takes Aim at Asian Studies

Lenfest Scholar Romelle Whalen is so into her Asian studies that she is even practicing traditional Japanese archery, or Kyudo. The 18-year-old just fin- ished her freshman year at Amherst College in Massachusetts and credits her involvement in the Japan Discovery Challenge with reinforcing her earlier thoughts of majoring in Asian Studies.

"The Lenfest Foundation paid for my study abroad when I was a senior in high school. There is no way I would have gone if it weren't for the Lenfests and Mr. Lehecka," she recalled during a recent phone inter- view from her dorm room. She feels that fate played a role in her learning about the Lenfest Foundation.

"I heard about the program by word of mouth. My Mom encouraged me to write the essay and so I did and sent it in," says the Greencastle-Antrim High School Class Valedictorian. Romelle took an unusual approach to writing the requisite essay.

"I wrote it as if it was 10 years in the future and I was looking back remembering how I had gotten to the She went on to talk about the four colleges of her place I was - living in Japan," she reminisced. choice, and credited representatives of the Lenfest Foundation for pointing her in the right direction for Her essay begins…. financial aid at Amherst.

It is April, and once again I am awed "They were able to open the right doors and they were on top of the whole financial aid process," said by the beautiful view from my win- Romelle, who at this point is considering several options for a double major. She also serves as dow. Not every apartment in the city Japanese tutor on campus. She plans to continue the Kyudo and hopes to join a club when she goes to has the fortune of a view so distinctly Japan in her junior year to continue her studies. Japanese as cherry blossoms in "I need to practice a lot more, but eventually it's a med- spring. I admire the view briefly over itative thing. It's supposed to help you focus and get your mind clear of the clutter." a cup of tea. As I walk across the As for her future in Japan, the story still needs an end- Romelle Whalen tatami covered floor, an old photo of ing.

my high school graduation day catches my eye. I gaze at it, "All I know is that I want to live and work in Japan. Now I have to figure out another major to make that option detached at first, and as I begin to pay no attention to it, I wonder viable." which shoes I had worn to graduation. After a brief smile at this

childish pondering, I decide to spend a bit of my morning remi-

niscing over how I came to be working in Japan. 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 4

Diverse Experiences Lead to Great Success LaToya Brown, who just finished her sophomore year at Ursinus College in Collegeville, wonders where she would be heading if she had not applied for a Lenfest College Preparatory Program scholarship.

As a freshman at J. Frank Faust, Jr. High School in Chambersburg in Central , LaToya received a pamphlet from a teacher explaining the Lenfest College Preparatory Program. She recalls being interested immediately.

"I read it through and read it through again and LaToya Brown then I couldn't stop thinking about it all week. I knew, even at the age of 15, that I had to con- LaToya says clearly prepared her vince my Godmother, who was raising me, to let for the transition to college life. me apply," she said from her dorm room. "First, I was used to being away from home at that LaToya's argument for a more diverse education- point, but through Perkiomen I also learned how al experience was convincing. She was one of the to reach out and form a network, a community of 12 students selected for the Lenfest College my own. I've been able to take that process and Preparatory Program in 2002 and was awarded a apply it here at Ursinus." scholarship to the Perkiomen School in Montgomery County. LaToya blossomed in the As the end of March approached, LaToya learned boarding school environment. that she was accepted in an exchange program at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She'll "There was so much diversity; students from begin in the nation's capital in the fall of 2007 China, Japan, Spain, Puerto Rico and all over the and continue to Spain for the spring 2008 semes- ," she reminisced. "I did well with ter. LaToya has narrowed her major to American the small class sizes and a student body of less Studies with a concentration in Sociology with than 300 individuals." likely minors of Religion and Spanish as well.

Beyond the academic life, LaToya notes she was "I'm not sure where this will lead. I like children exposed to many varied experiences. and the idea of some sort of social work."

"There was always an activity planned every week- In the meantime, she is gaining some practical end -- from going into a city, to skiing, to a host of experience as a Residential Advisor on Ursinus' social activities on campus. I really didn't have campus. time to be too homesick." "It's a lot of responsibility monitoring other stu- She credits her Lenfest Foundation mentors, dents and trying to troubleshoot difficult sit- Arnold and Carol Hillman, for keeping her on track uations. If a fight breaks out, I try to and encouraging her in the college application be the calming force," she added. process. "I feel blessed that I am where I am at this point in my life." "Mr. and Mrs. Hillman were our liaisons and they would come to take us out to dinner, keep in touch by e-mail, and even received our grade reports." 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 5

Foundation Welcomes 2007 College Preparatory Scholarship Winners

The Lenfest Foundation recently honored 17 students with Lenfest College Preparatory Scholarships.

The students in the 2007 Class come from nine Pennsylvania school districts and continue the tradition of achievement that is the hallmark of Lenfest Scholars. The award recipients are:

Student School District School Attending Deborah Adjibaba Tuscarora Mercersburg Academy Christopher Atkinson Waynesboro Area Mercersburg Academy Caleb Bowers Chambersburg Area Wyoming Seminary Hannah Edwards Chambersburg Area Mercersburg Academy Katrina Klunk Conewago Valley Wyoming Seminary Sarah Knaggs Conewago Valley Wyoming Seminary Sarah Kolanowski Chambersburg Area Mercersburg Academy Emily Lamb Octorara Area Westtown School Joshua McLucas Waynesboro Area Wyoming Seminary Gwen Miller Upper Perkiomen Mercersburg Academy Tanner Robeson Tuscarora Wyoming Seminary Spenser Shaffer Bermudian Springs Westtown School Rachel Statler Greencastle-Antrim Wyoming Seminary Paige Summers Chambersburg Area Mercersburg Academy Nicholas Wishard Waynesboro Area Westtown School Wendy Wolff Upper Perkiomen Westtown School Megan Wurmb Bermudian Springs Westtown School

The students receive tuition, room and board at an independent boarding school through graduation pro- vided they meet all school and Foundation requirements. The scholarships were awarded based on a stu- dent's academic potential, leadership qualities, personal development, ability to succeed at an independ- ent boarding school and family financial need.

"We are very pleased to help another talented group of young people," said Gerry Lenfest. "We look for- ward to great work from these students."

The Foundation has now awarded more than 100 Lenfest College Preparatory Scholarships since the pro- gram's inception in 2001. 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 6

Lenfest College Scholarships Awarded to 15 Juniors

The Foundation in May welcomed 15 more students as Lenfest College Scholarship Program recipients. The stu- dents, all of whom are completing their junior year at public high schools, are eligible to receive up to $12,000 per year for four years of attendance at an accredited U.S. college or university. The 2007 Lenfest College Scholars are:

Reyna Beltran Biglerville High School Renee Byers Chambersburg Area Senior High School Ryan Gayman Chambersburg Area Senior High School Ethan Grandel Chambersburg Area Senior High School Craig Hayes Greencastle-Antrim High School Rosemary Imms Octorara Area High School Patricia Jimenez Biglerville High School Leslie Lemus Biglerville High School Emily Mishler Waynesboro Area Senior High School Sarah Myers Bermudian Springs High School Thao Nguyen New Oxford High School Arslan Rashid New Oxford High School Rachel Reeder James Buchanan High School Diana Stottlemyer Greencastle-Antrim High School Aarin Wadel Chambersburg Area Senior High School

The Foundation has awarded college scholarships to 51 students, five of whom have already graduated college.

The Foundation also awarded $1000 each to 15 additional program finalists. The students are:

Jessica Barr Octorara Area High School Colleen Bradley Waynesboro Area Senior High School Christopher Brown Waynesboro Area Senior High School Sarah Brown Waynesboro Area Senior High School Matthew Copenhaver Greencastle-Antrim High School Minzhi Chen Chambersburg Area Senior High School Laura Fawks Waynesboro Area Senior High School Brittany Lehman Chambersburg Area Senior High School Magali Perez New Oxford High School Jill Pheasant Fannett-Metal High School Joseph Sine New Oxford High School Francesco Siciliano Chambersburg Area Senior High School Kevin Smith Octorara Area High School Derek West Chambersburg Area Senior High School Michael Wiley Chambersburg Area Senior High School

Scholarships were awarded based on a student's ambition to succeed at a challenging college or university, a student's academic achieve- ment and potential, a student's leadership qualities and financial need. 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 7

Foundation Celebrates Lenfest Weekend

In early June, 35 Lenfest Scholars from the Lenfest College Preparatory Program and the Lenfest College Scholarship Program gathered with Foundation staff, Board members and con- sultants, at Villanova University. Of those attend- Gerry Lenfest talks with students at the weekend dinner. ing, four had just graduated from college, ten will enter this fall, and the remainder are attending college.

The first goal for the weekend was to build a community from Scholars in the two programs, many of whom had never met. Through living together, engaging in some common activities, and sharing meals, Scholars from the two programs, different prep schools and different years of college entrance got to know one another and feel part of a larger Lenfest Scholar community.

The second goal was to have Scholars with more experience help those who were newer to college. One discus- sion group brought together all those present who will begin college in the fall with some of the Scholars from years before them. A second group focused on advice for those in the first two years of college based on the experience of those further along. The two sessions were titled "How to Succeed in College Without Repeating the Mistakes of Your Elders," where the elders were not Foundation staff or consultants but the older Scholars.

A third goal was to discuss how Foundation programs could better help Scholars. The discussion covered the areas of communication, career advice, internships and summer jobs. A spirited discussion about using the web to help Scholars stay in touch with one another and the Foundation was very useful. Foundation staff will follow the advice of many Scholars present to supplement the Foundation web site with a Scholar-created group on a site that already caters to college students and alumni.

At a dinner, the Scholars found inspi- ration from keynote speaker Professor Andrew Delbanco of Columbia University. Professor Delbanco wove together stories and lessons from the founding of the United States, the lives of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln and current events. Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest pre- sented Scholars graduating with watches in recognition of their suc- cess.

HOLD THE DATE: Lenfest Community Weekend 2008 will be June 14-15. Details will follow in the coming months. Marguerite Lenfest enjoys stories from the Scholars. 17936_Lenfest_NL.qxd 7/13/07 8:36 PM Page 8

5 Tower Bridge 300 Barr Harbor Drive, Suite 450 West Conshohocken, PA 19428

LenfestScholars.org Coming Shortly

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The site's areas include a section listing Lenfest Scholars with brief background and contact information, if a student wishes. Another section will feature news and infor- mation from the scholarship program. A third section will include stories written by and about students on their experiences in school and the workforce. A message board will allow students to have a conversation with fellow Scholars.

Students will receive an email with advance notice of the site's availability and instruc- tions for registration. The Foundation wel- comes suggestions from students. Please email Roger Lehecka at [email protected].