The College of Saint Mary Magdalen Welcomes the 2012 Presidential Scholarship Recipient

The College of Saint Mary Magdalen (www.Magdalen.edu) welcomes freshman, Anna Vandegrift, the 2012 recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. This highly competitive, four-year, full-tuition scholarship honors Pope Benedict XVI and is awarding to one incoming freshman each year.

Students who meet the academic criteria compete by writing an essay in response to one of Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclicals—Deus caritas est, Spe salvi, or Caritas in veritate—demonstrating his or her close reading of the encyclical and careful reflection upon its meaning for Catholics at the beginning of the twenty-first century.  The winner must maintain a 3.4 grade point average and participate in the Honors Program to retain the scholarship.

Anna, a native of Bethel, Ohio, pursues a variety of interests that complement her active intellectual life:  Anna plays piano, trains both dogs and horses, is very active in her local Catholic youth group, and is currently serving as a member of her peer ministry team. 

“I have always had a deep interest in theology and philosophy, subjects most fruitfully studied in light of the Truth handed down to us by the Church. Consequently, when it came to choosing a college it was essential that the school I choose be Catholic. But a school that was merely nominally Catholic would not suffice, for faith that is not practiced is dead and void. The College of Saint Mary Magdalen struck me as a school that truly embraces its Catholic identity not just in the classroom but in all aspects of campus life,” Anna said in her description of what first attracted her to the College of Saint Mary Magdalen.

“I am looking forward to being part of a community where faith and academics are truly integrated. I am also excited to meet and develop relationships with other like-minded students,” Anna continued.

The College congratulates Anna on her achievement and looks forward to her contributions to the school as a member of the class of 2016.                                                                     

The College of Saint Mary Magdalen is one of only 20 colleges in the U.S. to be named to the Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College (www.TheNewmanGuide.com ). The College offers a classical liberal arts education through its Great Books Program.  The College’s academic offerings and its collegiate culture are rooted in a commitment of unwavering fidelity to the traditions and magisterium of the Catholic Church. The College is still accepting students and offering financial aid for fall 2012.