2020 Scholars

PARTH AMIN
Van Nuys, CA
Dartmouth college

To Parth, integrity is the ability to stand your ground and fight against injustice even when you are all alone in doing so. Drawing on President Reagan’s stand against the Red Scare in Hollywood, Parth founded a nonprofit to address the Indian water pollution crisis. His organization, Pre-Med Ed, has brought clean water to hundreds of remote Indian villages. A volleyball player, debate team captain, and biology and math expert for the science bowl, Parth has already been embedded into the research communities at UCLA, Stanford, and Cal State Northridge. In addition to serving as president of his nonprofit, he has volunteered hundreds of hours for two hospitals and numerous other organizations. From Van Nuys, California, Parth will attend Dartmouth College to major in neuroscience.

Adina Cazacu-De Luca
Chesterfield, MO
Columbia university

Adina’s recommender boasted of her vast talents as follows: resourceful, intellectual, curious, determined, thoughtful, accomplished, talented, creative, musical, engaged, involved, kind, and humble. Wow. An editor for the Literacy Journal and the School Newspaper, Adina is an award-winning musician and conductor. She served as varsity captain of the Science Olympiad and a member of Model UN. In a typical week, you can find her running a book club for third graders in North St. Louis, working as a research fellow for Washington University in St, Louis, helping seventh graders appreciate nature as a camp counselor, conducting a recital at a local nursing home, and shepherding the diversity initiatives for her student body. From Chesterfield, Missouri and now residing in Severn, Maryland, Adina will study public health on the pre-med track at Columbia University. Congratulations, Adina.

michael chen
green cove springs, fl
massachusetts institute of technology

Michael cites President Reagan’s passion as something he emulates through his service to and advocacy for others. Inspired to preserve our environment, Michael founded the Earth Club at his school, and against skepticism, has worked to conduct 20 clean ups, spoken to legislators, and addressed environmental concerns locally. He used his platform as State President for Future Business Leaders of America to organize a state-wide environmental clean up. Captain of the robotics team, Michael is a science fair champion and a mentor and volunteer for young science and robotics students. He balances working in his family’s restaurant with his activities, service, and academics – and was named class valedictorian. From Green Cove Springs, Florida, Michael will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

elliott detjen
draper, ut
harvard university

President Reagan’s words were: “We need you. We need your youth. We need your strength. We need your idealism to help us make right that which is wrong.” Elliott is working to rise to this challenge. As founder of the Civil Discourse Club, he intended to provide a platform and a voice for all sides of the political spectrum to encourage respectful dissent and compromise. He has represented his state at numerous citizenship events and programs. President of the American history club, he also founded the Healthy Teens Coalition and helped lobby for the successful passage of legislation that limited access to tobacco. This Eagle Scout is also a basketball player and serves on the youth councils for his town and county. From Draper, Utah, Elliott will attend Harvard University.

chase eastham
somerset, ky
university of kentucky

Chase’s perspective on leadership follows that of President Reagan: being an effective leader and leaving a lasting legacy is less about leading than it is about serving. As such, he has used his leadership abilities to serve those in his community and across the United States. As a mission trip leader, he was able to live out his faith while addressing the physical needs of others. A faithful leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Young Republicans Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and more, Chase also was a varsity basketball player and varsity soccer captain, both teams earning district and regional titles. Chase’s core values are inspiring: putting my family-first, always staying teachable, and remembering that we have the ability to choose how we respond to our circumstances. A graduate from Southwestern High School in Kentucky, Chase will study biotechnology at the University of Kentucky.

creighton harrington
loup city, ne
chadron state college

Creighton’s rural upbringing and the examples set by her parents have driven her to embrace her core values of initiative, perseverance, and empathy. She takes advantage of every opportunity that is before her, working hard and being mindful of the needs of others. A star athlete, Creighton has been a part of or captained the volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, and track and field teams. Vice president of the student council, she was a state medalist on the speech team, state champion of Future Farmers of America, president of the National Honor Society, ensemble leader for a one-act play production, and more. Described as one of the most talented students to ever walk the hallways of her school district, she shows no signs of slowing down in college. From Loup City, Nebraska, Creighton will pursue the pre-med track at Chadron State College.

eleanor hummel
louisville, ky
the university of north carolina - chapel hill

Ellie leads from a place of courage - learning at a young age to lead with compassion, seek honesty, and be brave enough to speak up. Her passion for medicine has taken her around the world - serving at an orphanage in Tanzania to address devastating health issues - and, at home, starting the first Walk for Water in Kentucky. She hopes to marry her medical aptitude with international relations and advocacy to create sustainable health care solutions worldwide. An officer for Health Occupations Students of America - HOSA, Kentucky Youth Assembly, Metro Youth Advocates, Kentucky United Nations Assembly, and debate team. She is a member of the science National Honors Society, the founder of a nonprofit math program, and leader of both the Science and Biology Olympiads. A varsity swimmer, Ellie works as a swim coach and instructor. From Louisville, Kentucky, Ellie will attend the The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

andrew pasco
haddonfield, nj
california institute of technology

The foundation of Andrew’s leadership is integrity, driven home by a family motto: “do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.” This emphasis on character and an example of selfless service from his Air Force veteran parents drives Andrew to fulfill his individual obligation to serve his local community and nation. A delegate to Boys State, the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership seminar, and the New Jersey Governor’s School, Andrew was an editor of his school’s literary magazine, Math Honor Society President, and an award-winning leader of the robotics team. A varsity, all-conference, captain of the swim team, he served as co-founder and president of the local Alex’s Lemonade Stand chapter. From Haddonfield, New Jersey, Andrew will study mechanical engineering at California Institute of Technology.

braedon price
bowling green, ky
harvard university

Braedon is guided by a clear vision that he has for his life, allowing him to pursue his goals with confidence and purpose. Recognizing the diversity in his own life, Braedon also values acceptance and respect. He is an officer of the Future Farmers of America, Student Ambassadors, the Academic Team, Speech and Debate, and the Spanish National Honor Society. Student council president Braedon is captain of the varsity soccer team, a youth soccer referee, and a member of his church’s youth group. Service is in his bones. He is president of the Beta Club, and has volunteered for a wide range of local organizations and earned the Student Volunteer Award from the Bowling Green Rotary Club. From Bowling Green, Kentucky, Braedon will study government and public policy at Harvard University.

emma wiley
jackson, oh
the ohio state university

Emma’s personal experiences have developed in her a strong sense of empathy, compassion, and acceptance, each of which she carries with her when she leads and serves her community. She strives to set a positive example for those in her footsteps, modeling initiative and resourcefulness. A future executive, Emma was president of Business Professionals of America and CEO of her Ohio Business Week camp company. Captain of the varsity soccer team and the cheerleading squad, she served as school representative for local and state athletic conferences. Emma was a representative for the Interact Club, the Lion’s Club, and the iBelieve Foundation. She has volunteered for causes ranging from Special Olympics to wildlife preservation to hunger relief. From Jackson, Ohio, Emma will study at the Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University.