• Laura Bonnett – Bellevue, Neb.
• Ben Dumas – Castle Rock, Colo.
• Meg Smith – Moscow, Russia

The full-tuition scholarships, made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding promise as Christian leaders and who plan to pursue a minor in Christian ministry.
Recipients scored 26 or higher on the ACT and are in the top 20 percent of their high school class. Students wrote an essay, provided letters of recommendation and were interviewed.

In addition to the scholarship, recipients must assist with religious activities on campus, live in campus housing for four years, be active in a local congregation of their choosing, attend a summer workshop and be instrumental in the college’s Vocation and Values Program.

The Kessler Scholarship, worth more than $80,000 over four years, is named for Rev. Dr. Silas Kessler, former member of the college’s board of trustees and former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings. This is the seventh year the scholarships have been awarded.