Two incoming students at Bluffton University have been awarded the university’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, valued at more than $105,000 for four years, while two others have received a Dean’s Scholarship, worth more than $80,000 over the same period.
Daniel Piero of Medina, Ohio, and Aaron Johnson of Goshen, Ind., are the Presidential Scholarship recipients.
Piero, the son of William and Susan Piero, is a 2013 Medina High School graduate. He played viola in the school’s Symphony and Chamber orchestras, and also in the Baldwin Wallace University Senior Youth Orchestra. In addition, he played piano in an independent student jazz quartet called Jazz Tan Laundry and was a member of Key Club, a volunteer organization.
Johnson is a 2013 graduate of Goshen High School, where he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Crimson Marching Band, Symphonic Orchestra, Advanced Choir, Men’s Choir, Crimsonaires Show Choir, Advanced Jazz Band and the musical cast. He also played basketball, participated in regional and state Envirothon competitions and was a member of National Honor Society.
Outside school, Johnson has been a member of Earthcare 4-H Club, principal trumpet in the Elkhart County Youth Honors Orchestra and active in the Eighth Street Mennonite Church youth group. He is the son of Barry and Janeen Bertsche Johnson.
Piero and Johnson were the winners of Bluffton’s 15th annual Presidential Scholarship competition, which brought 90 high-achieving high school seniors to campus to write an essay in response to a faculty lecture and previously assigned readings. Invited students had grade point averages of 3.5 or higher and a composite score of at least 25 on the ACT or 1130 on the SAT.
The Dean’s Scholarship, which covers three quarters of tuition, went to incoming students Rebecca Lapp of Watsontown, Pa., and Zachary Kornhaus of Fredericksburg, Ohio.
Lapp, the daughter of Steven and Lynette Lapp, graduated from Warrior Run High School, Turbotville, Pa. She was vice president of National Honor Society and a member of Key Club and Student Council. She has been active in the youth group at Community Mennonite Fellowship, Milton, Pa.
Kornhaus was a member of National Honor Society and the soccer and quiz teams at Hiland High School, Berlin, Ohio. He has also been active in his youth group, at Martins Mennonite Church, and is the son of R. Kim and Lyla Kornhaus.
Both the Presidential and Dean’s scholarships are renewable with GPAs of 3.0 or above at Bluffton.
