Meet the Scholars
Scholars from around the country and world bring their passions, ideas, and perspectives to W&L, elevating classroom discussion, enriching community life, and heightening the University's sense of what is possible. They represent our brightest hope for the future.
Meet a small group of current Johnson Scholars:
Joseph Moravec '13Joseph Moravec, from Normal, Ill., is most inspired by water. The beach is his favorite place and he finds inspiration in Christopher Columbus who "had the courage and the audacity to go against every scholar and sail into the unknown."
Keaton Fletcher '13Keaton thinks his enthusiasm is his best quality, “enthusiasm about whatever I am doing regardless of whether or not I am enjoying myself is quite unique.
Abbie Caudill '13Abbie Caudill says that she was nervous at the prospect of visiting campus for the Johnson Scholarship Competition but after staying with her host during the competition Abbie says she "felt extremely excited for [her] next four years at Washington and Lee."
Kayla Welch '13Kayla Welch chose Washington and Lee for its "unique blend of tradition and innovation." So it's no surprise that Kayla first heard of W&L in her history textbook!
Lauren Schultz '13Lauren Schultz believes "leadership is important because progress depends on individuals to take the first steps towards improvement and to encourage others to make positive changes."
Amanda Kelly Lane '13After graduating at the top of her class from Willowbrook High School in Lombard, Ill., Amanda joins the W&L class of 2013. She hopes to study biochemistry or journalism and participate in sports.
Robert Vestal '13Robert Vestal has a number of reasons for choosing W&L- "the campus is beautiful and the people are incredible- you can't beat that!
Meg Weigel '13Meg loves horseback riding and photography and chose W&L because she wanted a place where "students seem focused on learning, and the professors seem focused on teaching."
Jessie Ykimoff '13Jessie Ykimoff enters W&L with decidedly defined interests: running and science. But she is open-minded when it comes to her future career plan
Mary Elizabeth Bush '13The biggest change Mary Elizabeth Bush will face in attending W&L? "It was much colder than I was used to at home, but the snow on the ground made everything look picturesque," she said. Mary Elizabeth makes the move to Lexington from Pensacola, Fla. where she attended Pensacola High School.
Joseph Landry '13Topping the list of reasons why Joseph Landry decided to attend Washington and Lee? "I decided to attend Washington and Lee because I believe it promises to educate the entire person, from academics to ethics," he says.
Riley Jordan '13Riley Jordan isn't satisfied with his accomplishments thus far. His goal for his time at W&L includes graduating with honors, playing for the Generals basketball team and being admitted to law school.
Chenxiaoyang “Annie” Zhang '13"Leadership matters because goals and dreams exist," says Chenxiaoyang "Annie" Zhang of Salem High School in Canton, Michigan. Annie led numerous groups at Salem High School including the Science Olympiad Team, the Debate Team and as a member of the volleyball team.
Clark Hildabrand '13Clark Hildabrand decided to attend W&L because of its "tradition of honor." Honor is something that has been instill in Clark as a member of the Boy Scouts. "My proudest accomplishment has been earning the rank of Eagle Scout.
Ronald Magee, Jr. '13Ronald grew up in Lima, Ohio and attended Shawnee High School. He describes himself as a "nonconformist" in that he "refuse[s] to conform to a society that espouses ‘looking out for number one.'"
Kelly Mae Ross '13Inspired by her father who grew up in a single-parent household and worked to finance his own education, Kelly Mae Ross' academic achievements and extracurricular leadership has financed her education with a Johnson Scholarship.
Nathaniel Reisinger '13W&L has a monstrously experienced staff and quality and intellectual students. I know that by attending I am surrounding myself with fantastic people, both in my superiors and my peers."
Elise Hansen '13Johnson Scholars come from near and far. And Christine "Elise" Hansen earns the title as hometown hero. Elise graduated from Rockbridge County High School, a few miles from the Colonnade of Washington and Lee's front campus.
Kerry Cotter '13Kerry embodies the idea of the student-athlete. She chose W&L because she “received the Johnson scholarship and could play Division III tennis.”
Lizzie Engel '13Lizzie wants to stay involved in Hillel but expand her interests by joining the crew team and the Young Democrats. She'll have to juggle her extracurriculars with her demanding academic schedule as she wants to double major in physics-engineering and Spanish.Michael Novack '13Michael says that he wants to be the type of student that “most ordinary professors fear, but W&L professors love; the kind that asks questions.
