In all, 1,972 essays were submitted. The youngest person to enter was 14(!!) and the oldest was 64. The average age was 23. The average GPA was 3.2, and 82%(!!!) of you are female :) 28% of you are Freshmen, 25% are Sophomores, 19% are Juniors, 18% are Seniors, and 8% are Graduate and above level. Students from every state in the USA entered, representing 1,652 different colleges.

And NONE of you made this an easy decision :) From Cinda, one of the judges: "I do not appreciate the hair pulling, sleepless nights, cussing and fighting to figure out which one was the best of the best" Mind you, she IS laughing as she says this :)

Now, before you rush to scroll down the page to see if your name is here, you might be interested in reading the details on the NEXT scholarship we are giving away!! The FreSch! "Let's Get Creative!" Scholarship Contest details can be found here!

First, The Semi-Finalists, who should be VERY proud of having made this SUCH a tough decision and keeping five hard-working judges up all night reading and re-reading: In no particular order...

Dora Brock, 55, So. Seattle Community College
Katherine Crowley, 18, University of Scranton
Wendy Cohen, 25, Wayne State University
Mary Reeves, 31, Atlantic Community College
Wendy Goeckner, 47, St. Mary of the Woods
Jennifer Johnson, 18, Johns Hopkins University
Sandra Beasley, 18, University of Virginia
Caroline Chu, 18, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mary Haberer, 18, Southern Methodist University
Amanda Carroll, 18, University of Denver
Anne Paquette, 19, University of Arizona
Maie Young, 17, Ohio State University
Davie Kiel, 38, University of Idaho
Leona Medearis, 30, San Joaquin Delta College
Sejal Sheth, 26, Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy
Emery Joseph Yost, 34, Depaul University
Mariah Mattoon, 20, University of Alaska
Brad Thames, 20, University of Arizona
Erin Crowe, 18, Michigan State University
Amanda Tomczyk, 24, Wayne State University
Patricia Oleska, 32, Duquesne University
Lydia Farmer, 28, Spokane Community College
Timothy Gailey, 23, University of Arizona
Shawna Lisk, 25, San Jose City College
Trina Evins, 18, Green River Community College
Monique Howard, 24, University of New Orleans
Cheryl Wright, 18, Harding University
Jennifer Cohoon, 19, University of Arizona
Pamela Valera, 22, University of San Francisco
Lynnette Doyle, 18, University of Maryland
Vickie Ford Corraro, 37, University of Tulsa
Mindy Grundmeier, 18, Northern Illinois University

Terry Seal, 42, Indiana University
Catherine Doil, 18, Duke University
Jill Halter, 18, Transylvania University
Shannon McMillan, 18, University of Northern Colorado
Denise Terry, 27, Northeastern University
Jennifer McDonnell, 22, University of Southern California

Emily Maxwell, 24, who is studying Social Welfare/Social Work at the University of California.

Jennifer Cullen, 20, who is studying Physical Anthropology at the University of California.

Finally, the judges have chosen one essay to win the $500 scholarship. Hard to believe, but all of the judges agreed! The winner is... Drumroll please...

Lindsay Smythe, 19, who grew up in Wyoming and New Mexico, and is currently studying Wildlife Biology and Watershed Management at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. (Yes, Lindsay, you really did win!) You can read her winning essay here.

Finally, special, big, huge, wonderful thanks to the Judges, Roberta Hoar, Timothy Hoar, Robert Kiger, Maria W., and Cinda for spending literally hundreds of hours reading, re-reading, groaning, arguing, laughing, and even a few times, crying, over all of the entries. Special thanks to Joseph J. Thompkins and Ann Spano for their advice and assistance on contest laws and scholarships. And of course, my thanks to those that advertise here on FreSch!, which is where the money for scholarships we offer comes from *smile* We could not have done this without you guys :)

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