Cartus awarded college scholarship monies to three graduating seniors of the class of 2012 — Kelsey Ghirardo, daughter of Larry, vice president of account management in the Western region; Hanleigh Shepard, whose father Brad is a director in Sales and Marketing, based in the Midwest; and Kevin King, son of Cindy, who is a director in our Affinity group in Irving.
For the past five years, Cartus has awarded college-bound high school seniors with scholarship monies. The three recipients, two of whom tied for first prize, were chosen from among 22 applicants by a team of Cartus leaders from HR, Learning & Development, Client Services, and Finance.
Graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Ghirardo was a class officer, a dedicated athlete, and a lead player in her school’s dramatic and musical productions.
“While many students may excel academically, artistically, or athletically, Kelsey manages to approach all aspects of her life with balance and maturity that few students her age possess,” said Ghirardo’s drama instructor.
She foresees a career that encompasses her joint interests in health science and vocal performance. She plans to attend Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
A gifted writer and public speaker, King placed fourth in the nation in the 2011 Patrick Henry Memorial Original Oratory contest.
King’s speech and debate coach described him as “… a rare jewel of a human being” whose “drive and determination are unparalleled in my 17 years as an educator and coach.”
King envisions a career as a speech writer, press secretary, or campaign manager. He will attend the University of Texas in Austin.
Shepard was active in student council, DECA, and varsity sports while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and volunteering in her community, as well. Her softball coach notes that he volunteered to write her a letter of recommendation because of his deep respect and admiration for her. He says that her “… attitude toward life and the obstacles it eventually throws in the way of all of us is what makes Hanleigh exceptional. It is that selfless strength of character that gives me confidence in her; I know that she will succeed. She has earned my strongest recommendation.”
Shepard plans to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio and to use her creative capabilities in a marketing career.
These three students represent the best of the best. All of the Cartus Scholarship applicants were equally talented and exceptional, and choosing among them was a tough assignment. We are certain that all of them will go on to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields and, perhaps, some of them will even join us as coworkers. We wish them all the very best in their future endeavors, whatever they may be.
Email this contributor at amy.meichner@cartus.com.
