20 Women Win This Year's Awards

Leader in Independent Higher Education awards service and success scholarships across Kansas; for the first time ALL recipients are women.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 21, 2021 | Topeka, KS | The Kansas Independent College Foundation, (KICF), on behalf of its 20-member institutions, is proud to announce the 2021 Maud Wyatt Recognition Scholarship Recipients. KICF awards up to 20 individual scholarships, one for a student at each Foundation member institution. The recipients are all full-time, degree seeking students on the cusp of graduation, and have each demonstrated excellence in academics, character and integrity, and a commitment to the value of a private college education in Kansas. These students lifted the spirit of their respective communities during this historic year while also maintaining GPAs of 3.5 or above.

While gender was not a factor or criteria in any recipient’s selection, and the individual colleges do not collaborate on their nominations, it is noteworthy that, for the first time, all 20 winners are women. Please help us congratulate our 2021 recipients.

Baker University: Patricia Moore from Raymore, MO, a Physical Education & Health major with a 3.93 GPA

Barclay College: Susan Andersen from Kinsley, a Business Administration major with a 3.94 GPA

Benedictine College: Lara Salgado from Wichita, a Journalism major with a 3.62 GPA

Bethany College: Addison Botkin from Topeka, a Marketing & Sports Management major with a 3.98 GPA

Bethel College: Sandy Dao from Salina, a Biology major with a 3.80 GPA

Central Christian College of KS: Natalie Vines from Concordia, an Exercise Science major with a 3.76 GPA

Cleveland University Kansas City: Theresia Harris from Independence, MO, a Radiologic Technology major with a 3.50 GPA

Donnelly College: Brenda Martinez from Kansas City, MO, a Liberal Arts major with a 3.50 GPA

Friends University: Astrid Garcia from Newton, an Elementary Education major with a 3.80 GPA

Hesston College: Star Her Many Horses from Lawrence, a Business major with a 3.76 GPA

Kansas Wesleyan University: Emily Monson from Cheney, a Graphic Design major with a 4.0

Manhattan Christian College: Lillian Reed from Cunningham, a Bible and Leadership major with a 3.97 GPA

McPherson College: Shyanne Henkis from Lavean, AZ, a Sociology major with a 3.80 GPA

MidAmerica Nazarene University: Isabella Cavanaugh from Bonner Springs, a Ministry major with a 3.88 GPA

Newman University: Kelly Mai from Wichita, a Criminal Justice major with a 3.87 GPA

Ottawa University: Kylee Weber from Overland Park, a Communications major with a 4.0

Southwestern College: Jessica Coleman from Salina, a Health Science major with a 3.97 GPA

Sterling College: Kaylea Hein from Wichita, KS, a Health Science major with a 3.72 GPA

Tabor College: Abigail Sechrist from Hillsboro, a Psychology major with a 3.99 GPA

University of St. Mary: Natasha Ortiz from Albuquerque, NM, an Exercise Science major with a 3.60 GPA

“The diversity of majors reflects the many ways private college students find purpose and success in the world,” says KICF President Matthew Lindsey upon the announcement of the 2021 scholarships. KICF is confident that these scholarships will help them complete a degree that is preparing them for a lifetime of professional and personal fulfillment. In fact, here are some perspectives on the independent degree experience from our 4.0 students.

“My institution has taught every student that failure is inevitable. This has impacted my journey in my career the most. I am a student that never believed in failure, everything has to be perfect in my eyes. However, the faculty at [my] university taught me that failure is key to success, without failure we would not know what true success is. This has altered my view of not just my career path, but in life as well. I no longer play it safe with assignments, I no longer reach for the bare minimum I know I will get; I no longer settle.”

“Going to [my] university has taught me so much and I genuinely believe the education I have acquired here will help me long after I am finished sitting in the classrooms. This isn’t a school that teaches you just to get you through the class, they teach you so you can better yourself and better your career. [They] has truly prepared me for success using lessons, projects, and community outreach.”

The scholarship was established in 1995 through the generosity of Maud Wyatt, whose bequest has supported the work of KICF and its institutions since 1961. The Kansas Independent College Foundation seeks to develop, promote, and direct unified approaches to selected corporations, foundations, and individuals for financial support of Kansas’ independent colleges and universities.

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Located in Topeka, the Kansas Independent College Foundation is a 501(c)3 that develops and enhances the competitive standing of its 20-member independent, non-profit, regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and strives to assure opportunity and choice in higher education for all students. For more information on the Foundation, or for additional quotes from the winners, please contact Jesyca Hope at 785-235-9877 or jesyca@kscolleges.org.