成人头条 has selected the 2025 recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships. Each student will receive a $64,000 scholarship to attend 成人头条 State in August 2025.
The 2025 Gore Scholars are:
- Beckett Sollars, Park Hill Senior High School (Missouri)
- Mei-Li Hunt, Wesclin Junior-Senior High School (Illinois)
- Aidan Thibodeau, Herington High School
The students competed in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational in November, with 548 other students also competing. To be invited to compete in the invitational, students had to have a 27 or higher ACT score, a 3.5 or higher GPA, or rank in the top 10% of their class. Once invited, students completed an application, including essays and competed in an on-campus leadership competition. Twelve finalists came back to campus Jan. 23 for final interviews.
As with Gore Scholars before them, the three recipients this year are involved in their schools and communities and plan to do the same at WSU.
Beckett Sollars
Sollars plans to major in nursing. Sollars is a four-year participant and team captain of his school鈥檚 soccer team, participant in track & field and upperclassmen team leader for wrestling. He serves as the senior class president on Leadership Council and has spoken at over 35 public speaking engagements representing his high school. Sollars has completed two internships while in high school: the Aspiring Medical Professional Internship where he shadowed in three Kansas City area hospitals and is currently interning with the Kansas City Sports Network this spring semester.
鈥淏eckett is one of the most authentic students I have ever met,鈥� said Poppy Lee, Beckett鈥檚 LEAD Innovation Studio math teacher and Student Council Sponsor. 鈥淗is energizing personality and ability to relate to people of all ages is uncanny. He is always the first to volunteer to help and will always put his best foot forward. He works effortlessly to get the job done and then volunteers for the next. All I have ever heard about Beckett is positive. I have no doubt that Beckett will continue to be an outstanding leader at 成人头条 State.鈥�
鈥淭o me the traits that I believe will unquestionably make Mr. Sollars successful at the university level, beyond the basic student skills, are his growth mindset, resilience and perseverance, and confident humility,鈥� said Daniel Motta, Beckett鈥檚 design thinking teacher and AP teacher for three years. 鈥淗e has learned to have faith in his abilities while maintaining an openness and willingness to rethink ideas. To me, this is the whole point of academia and scholarship 鈥� having the willingness to question assumptions and do the work to validate or change your thinking.鈥�
Mei-Li Hunt
Hunt will major in biomedical engineering. At Wesclin Junior-Senior High School, Hunt was elected president of Student Council and secretary for National Honor Society. She earned a varsity letter in soccer and is a leader for fellow students through her participation in organizations like Math Team, Robotics, Lifesavers, and Foundation of Christian Athletes (FCA). Hunt also volunteers as a cheer and soccer coach to children in grades Kindergarten through seventh grade, hosting practices and clinics.
鈥淥n the math team, Mei-Li volunteers to participate in most of the competitions,鈥� said Lisa Brede, teacher and math team sponsor at Wesclin High School. 鈥淗er willingness to compete in a math competition during her free time is a testament to her dedication. Mei-Li has always been a leader by example. She participates in multiple extracurricular activities, takes honors and dual-credit classes and has a part-time job. She does all of this while maintaining her high GPA and positive attitude. She is a highly intelligent, motivated and well-liked student. These qualities will continue to help her succeed in college.鈥�
鈥淪he takes initiative and goes above and beyond what is expected of her,鈥� said Kellie Kuntz, business instructor and Student Council Sponsor at Wesclin High School. 鈥淪he is a caring and respectful person that leads by example and couples her leadership skills with compassion and concern for others. She does not ask others to do what she is not willing to do herself. She is respected by her peers because she is patient and empathetic. Mei-Li takes pride in volunteering and helping charitable organizations and making a positive impact in her community. Mei-Li not only has a desire to help others but she also realizes that she can make a difference in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Aidan Thibodeau
Thibodeau is planning to study health science with aspirations to become a physician associate. He currently serves as president of his local chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and is the executive vice president for the state board of FBLA. Thibodeau is the captain of the Herington High School Cheer Squad, president of National Honor Society and chief editor of the Herington High School Yearbook.
鈥淎idan has made a tremendous positive impact on our school, community and our cheerleading team,鈥� said Kymberly Harper, Herington High School cheer coach. 鈥淎idan has a strong work ethic and is dedicated and disciplined. He always puts in the effort to achieve goals and inspire others to do the same. Aidan has a positive attitude which creates a motivating atmosphere and encourages others to stay focused and confident. Aidan thrives in new and challenging environments and is able to quickly adjust to find creative solutions. Aidan consistently strives to do his best, setting high standards for himself and those around him.鈥�
鈥淎idan does an amazing job of putting himself in situations that give him opportunities,鈥� said Lisa Beye, FBLA sponsor, business teacher and athletic director in Herington. 鈥淗e takes on these opportunities to the best of his abilities and is willing to go above and beyond for others. He is a very hard-working individual with a caring personality.鈥�
About 成人头条
成人头条 is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. 成人头条 State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 成人头条 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 成人头条 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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