Ottawa University is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Presidential Scholarship and the Fujiwara Scholarship.

OU Presidential Scholarships for 2008 have been awarded to Daniella Buss of Dumont, Colorado; Amanda Just of Andover, Kansas; Jake McMillian of Kansas City, Kansas; Jeff Savage of Harissonville, Missouri; and Sara VanZant of Princeton, Kansas. Each of these students will receive full tuition, as well as other benefits and honors, during their four-year educational career. As presidential scholars, they will be required to continue their academic and leadership excellence. The students qualified for the scholarships by holding a 3.5 cumulative high school GPA, scoring 25 (or equivalent) on the national ACT test, and ranking in the upper one third of their high school class. The evaluation process also included a review of their academic, co-curricular, volunteer, and employment history, as well as a written essay and an interview with a panel of faculty and administrators. Buss, Just, McMillian, Savage, and VanZant were chosen from among 22 students competing for the scholarships. 

Ashley Ford is a past recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and understands its value to prospective students. "Originally I wanted to come to OU because I knew it would be a place to be challenged in many different aspects of my life, academically and spiritually," said Ashley. "Receiving the Presidential Scholarship was important to me because it gave me a chance to come to my choice school, which otherwise might not have been financially possible."

The 2008 Fujiwara Scholarship has been awarded to junior Colten Coffin of McLouth, Kansas, and provides for the Fujiwara Cross-Cultural Homestay Program in Japan during the summer of 2008. The scholarship is made possible through the generous support of OU alumni Kodo and Machiko Fujiwara. During the Homestay Program, Coffin will receive room and board for a two week stay in Japan. "We certainly appreciate the generosity of the Fujiwaras for providing this unique cross-cultural opportunity," said Dr. Murle Mordy, chair of the Fujiwara Scholarship Committee. "Colt will definitely benefit from this enriching experience."

To assist Coffin with travel expenses, he has also been awarded $500 from the Jerry Campbell Cross-Cultural Fund, a fund established in memory of alumnus Jerry Campbell by his mother in 1971. 

Two other students, sophomore Emily McAfoos of Basehor, Kansas, and senior Andrew Moore of Topeka, Kansas, have been awarded the Jerry Campbell Class of 1971 Memorial Cross-cultural Scholarship. McAfoos will use her $1,500 stipend to participate in a class trip to Ireland in the fall; Moore will use his $1,400 stipend to travel to Hong Kong as part of a fall business class trip.