2023 Scholars

Robert tell Bagley
dimmitt, TX
Texas A&M University

Growing up working a ranch in the Texas Panhandle where – as he describes, there are more cows than people – instilled in Tell the incomparable leadership lessons of providing for and respecting animals. He translates this background as he leads and serves in other capacities – by earning the respect of his peers, being knowledgeable and curious, and listening to others. Tell has held leadership roles in the American Quarter Horse Youth Association, which is home to 17,000 members, the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America. These organizations have benefited immensely from his volunteerism, along with a local food pantry to which he committed nearly 500 hours of service. At school, he was captain of the football and baseball teams and was team leader for the Texas State Champion robotics team. Tell has balanced these activities with stellar academics and was named class valedictorian. From Dimmitt, Texas, Tell will attend Texas A&M University to study Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

tayleur baker
burns, or
oregon state university

Tayleur believes that we all have the power to change the world, and cites her faith as the foundation of her character. She is someone who lights up a space and sparks others to dream big and to love those around them. She brought her infectious leadership to roles with the school newspaper and National Honor Society, and was captain of the volleyball and basketball teams. Her passion, which she will continue to study in college, is agriculture, and she had a large impact in this area as an award-winning president of 4H, president of Future Farmers of America – for which she was named Most Outstanding Chapter President in the District, representative for the State of Oregon for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour, and a member of the Harney County Cattlewomen’s Association. Hailing from Burns, Oregon, Tayleur will head to Oregon State University in the fall.

Lauren U.C. Ejiaga
New Orleans, LA
Louisiana State university

As a second-generation Nigerian American, Lauren has a unique perspective on the lack of basic medical equipment, physicians, infant and maternal care, clean water, and a good education in the rural, developing world. With this awareness, she leads with a spirit of gratitude and urgency to address social, economic, and political determinants of health. Lauren’s passion for science – and in particular, the environment – has driven her to shepherd numerous efforts, including the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Clearwater Innovation, From Student to Scientist, the Green Society, and the Pets and Wildlife Club, as well as to volunteer for STEAM-related organizations with an emphasis on reaching women and disadvantaged children. Her independent research has been lauded by countless prestigious awards, and she was named one of six North American recipients of an international award for emerging youth environmental leaders for her founding of Conservation and Restoration Conjunction Science Workshops. From New Orleans, Louisiana, Lauren is heading to Louisiana State University to pursue degrees in neuroscience and environmental engineering and hopes to one day volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. 

 

madylin Maron Galbreath
ellwood city, PA
grove city college

Maddy’s leadership tracks with that of President Reagan: daring to speak where there is silence and fighting for the good when evil seems triumphant. From shame to survivor to advocate, Maddy has used her own story of heartbreaking abuse to inspire others with similar experiences toward a life of freedom and health. Despite her own diagnosis with PTSD and need for ongoing trauma therapy, she has turned her experiences into her life’s passion. She is a dedicated volunteer for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lawrence County and the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County. Founder of the Kids Too Club, which aims to normalize speaking out against abuse and promotes public awareness of the issue, she is an aspiring child advocacy lawyer. Beyond these commendable pursuits, Maddy was a class officer, lead attorney for mock trial, and on-air anchor for school television station, captain of the varsity tennis team, and the only female member of the boys varsity golf team. She works with the Unified Bocce Club to assist students with special needs to play the game and was a state and national-level qualifier for National Academic Games for eight consecutive years. Maddy is from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, and will study history at Grove City College in the fall. 

makenzie Lynn Gottschalk
kingsville, tx
texas A&M University, Kingsville

Hard work, selfless service, and integrity make Makenzie who she is. She credits 4H with the lessons and experiences that have shaped her values. Holding numerous leadership roles and receiving various accolades through 4H, the strongest impact that the organization has had on her is the knowledge that she has been an example and positive role model for younger 4Hers in her community. At school, she was a leader in student government, including DECA and National Honor Society, and was a member of the varsity softball team, a trainer for the basketball and volleyball teams, and held the role of school mascot. A vacation bible school volunteer, Mackenzie also served as historian for the Bluebonnet Drama Club, a service-oriented organization that supports local charities, and has held multiple part-time jobs. Makenzie will make her hometown of Kingsville, Texas proud when she attends Texas A&M University, Kingsville to study animal science in the fall.

sabrina guo
oyster bay, ny
yale university

A passionate activist, Sabrina works to advocate for those around her. To that end, she was the founder of two nonprofits. Girl Pride International puts disadvantaged girls from the United States and abroad on the path to becoming tomorrow’s leaders by attacking inequities and oppressive policies. Long Island Laboring Against COVID-19 was formed during the pandemic to specifically address shortages in PPE and services for the most vulnerable patients while also dispelling anti-Asian sentiments. These efforts have garnered the attention and praise of President Biden, former President Bush, Disney, and more. The causes that are most dear to her are often the subjects of her award-winning journalistic writing and poetry, as well as her extensive legislative activism. An internationally touring violinist, she has participated in selective enrichment programs, including Columbia University’s Science Honors Program, New York Junior Academy of Science, 1000 Girls 1000 Futures, Wharton's Leaders of the Business World, and many more. Sabrina hails from Oyster Bay, New York, and will head to Yale University on the pre-law track.

Abigail lee
northiridge, ca
stanford university

Growing up in her parents’ restaurant, which opened the year that she was born, the values of optimism, courage, and community were instilled in Abby as she spent countless hours working alongside her parents and serving the diverse local community. At school, she serves as president of her class, president and captain of the dance board, founder and president of Mu Alpha Theta, and president and captain of the Science Olympiad. Her leadership was recognized outside of her school community, as she served as ambassador for a Los Angeles Unified School District board member’s Student Advisory Council, a member of the LAUSD Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and a member of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Youth Council. Abby served as executive director of I Too Can STEM, an award-winning effort she founded to increase diversity in the STEM fields that has reached more than 600 students. She has also served two years as a research intern for Columbia University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology. From Northridge, California, Abby will attend Stanford University.

angela elizabeth luca
sunny isles beach, fl
university of florida

Her recommender states: “If a unicorn ever existed, it would be Angela!” Award-winning team captain for the varsity tennis team, Angela turned her skills into one of the most impactful experiences of her leadership journey. As a volunteer instructor, she used mindfulness practices and a focus on fun to build her students’ self confidence and expand the umbrella of tennis beyond socioeconomic boundaries. This work, to which she committed 800 hours, earned her the Game ChangeHER Award for Outstanding Athletes. Throughout high school, she held numerous offices within student government, the Future Medical Professionals Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, and the Computer Programming Club. She achieved success in the Code/Art National Coding Competition and the Girls Who Code summer immersion program. From Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Angela will study biomedical engineering at the University of Florida.

marissa schirmer
lizton, IN
ball state university

A 10-year award-winning leader with 4H, Marissa says that “family is the first brick in building the foundation” of her life. She was the Hendricks County representative for The Changemakers, for which she was a recipient of a Y.E.S. – or Youth Engaged in Service – grant for her work serving the Networking for Neighbors organization. She served as the homeschool community delegate and was the youth leader of the year for Youth Leadership Hendricks County. A first-team all-state volleyball player, Marissa held various offices with Jr. Leaders, was a delegate for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour, and editor and photographer of the yearbook. Her volunteer efforts have benefitted populations such as the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and her church community – but perhaps none more than the military, as she spent two years raising a dog for an Army veteran through the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs program. Marissa is from Lizton, Indiana, and will pursue a degree in speech language pathology and audiology at Ball State University.

gianna thomas
middletown, cT
yale university

Gianna is poised to marry her proficiency in science and business, as she has served as founder and president of HOSA and the pre-med club, president of Future Business Leaders of America and Healthcare Pathways in Business, team captain for the National Science Bowl, editor-in-chief of STEM writing for Connecticut Teen Vibe Newspaper, and founder of Science Saturdays Youth Initiative. She was also a published author, presenter to the Board of Education, president and director of public health outreach for the Mayoral Youth Cabinet, and president of the Connecticut Environmental Health Alliance. As president of the Key Club, among her most impactful service efforts were her founding of Middlesex County Virtual Tutoring and her work through the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Hailing from Middletown, Connecticut, Gianna’s education in public health at Yale University will continue in the fall – as she has already served as a researcher and panelist at the institution through the Young Global Scholar and Young Women’s Leader programs.

aaron tran
morgan hill, ca
stanford university

Aaron’s compassion and generosity – coupled with his aptitude for science – make him an unstoppable force for good. During the pandemic, Aaron developed two free online learning platforms – Aaron’s AP Prep and STEM Engage – to help improve standardized testing outcomes and foster intellectual curiosity among underserved students. Over the last two years, the AP Prep’s weekly Q&A review sessions have served more than 13,000 students and STEM Engage has provided enrichment courses for more than 1,000 middle schoolers. Aaron has made contributions as an intern and researcher for prestigious programs through MIT, Stanford University, and more. He was founder and and president of his school’s chapter of Team HBV, the youth branch of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, and served as an officer for his school’s chapters of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, the American Red Cross, and the California Scholarship Federation. From Morgan Hill, California, Aaron will join his sister, Alexis, a 2021 GE-Reagan Foundation Scholar, at Stanford University in the fall.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2023!