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Illinois student named Beamer scholar
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (May 4, 2012) — Kerri Beth Slaughter, a senior at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn., will attend Milligan College this fall as the 2012 Oosting scholar. The Oosting Scholarship is a merit-based, academic scholarship. It is Milligan’s most prestigious academic scholarship.
Milligan’s 2012 Beamer scholarship, another top academic scholarship, has been awarded to Erica Peak-Nordstrom of Rochester, Ill.
Candidates for the honors scholarships are selected based on high school GPA and ACT/SAT-I scores. A selection committee invites five to six candidates to Milligan’s campus for a day of interviews. The deadline to apply for Milligan’s honors scholarships, including the Oosting and Beamer, is Dec. 1.
Other academic scholarships are awarded on a weekly basis and are based on high school GPA and ACT/SAT-I scores. The deadline for Milligan’s leadership scholarships is Feb. 1 and requires an additional application. Fine arts scholarships (music, photography, theater and art) are awarded year round and require an audition or portfolio.
As an Oosting scholar, Slaughter is recognized for outstanding academic ability, a demonstration of commitment to scholarly pursuits, a sincere Christian faith and service to others.
At Science Hill, Slaughter excelled in academics and was involved in many extracurricular activities. She is an AP Scholar, as well as a recipient of AP awards in United States and European history. She is the president of Beta Club and a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Science Hill’s math club. She is a writer for the school’s newspaper and a Student Government Association representative.
Slaughter’s service to the community includes serving as a tutor at Girls Inc. and Lake Ridge Elementary. She enjoys working on mission trips and other community service projects with Boones Creek Christian Church.
“I chose to attend Milligan College because of the supportive professors, who will help me in my education as well as my spiritual life,” Slaughter said. “I am excited about meeting new people and making friends on campus.”
While at Milligan, Slaughter plans to major in biology and pursue a career in biological research. She is the daughter of Chris and Angie Slaughter.
Peak-Nordstrom is a senior at Rochester High School, where she served as a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She participated in JAWS (Joint Awareness and Wellness in Our School), the Spanish Club, the prom committee, and in Club U, which is her school’s volunteering club. She played clarinet in the marching and pep band, and was a member of the cross country and track and field teams.
At her home church, Rochester Christian Church, Peak-Nordstrom serves as a member of the youth group’s leadership team and frequently teaches a high school Sunday school class.
Peak-Nordstrom’s plans for attending Milligan include majoring in secondary education and becoming a high school English teacher.
“The first thing that struck me about the campus was how beautiful it is,” Peak-Nordstrom said. “On top of that, it’s a small Christian, liberal arts college, which is exactly what I was looking for. It feels like a perfect fit.”
Peak-Nordstrom is the daughter of Carol Nordstrom and Russel Peak. Her stepfather is Milligan alumnus Jon Nordstrom. Her stepmother is Nancy Sorrells.