Gale Scholars Celebrate 30 Years with Induction of 11 New Students

The latest inductees to the George Washington Gale Scholars Program were introduced to our community during a ceremony on Tuesday, May 5. The 11 inductees include: Nada Baamou, Delanie Casperson, Mya Gamble, Wyatt Greene, Eva Harris, Jasmine Lawrence, Addisyn Leiby, Dvite Lelo, Christopher Lubandi, Addilyn Simpson, and Keelie Thomas. The Gale Scholars Program began in 1996, making these students the 30th group of inductees into the prestigious program.

“Inducting these students into this prestigious organization and scholarship program gives them all the opportunity from this day forward to achieve their dreams,” Director of the Gale Scholars Program Steve Cheesman ’80 said. “A world of opportunities awaits them, and we want to continue to support them, help them, and encourage them to see this opportunity through.”

Throughout the program’s history, 68 students have graduated from Knox, including the first graduating class in 2006. 

“This program is sponsored by Galesburg Community School District 205, Carl Sandburg College, and Knox College. The support we receive from all three of those institutions, their leaders, the two presidents and the superintendent, and all their staff is enormous,” Cheesman said. “It’s a team effort here that supports these kids and puts them in a position to be successful, which is our main job. A lot of people do so much for our town, we’re so blessed to live here because the best part of our town is its people.” 

The program, named after Galesburg and Knox College founder George Washington Gale, is a partnership that encourages and supports higher education goals for first-generation and income-eligible students. The program, which offers tuition-free scholarships to Carl Sandburg College and Knox College, was recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 1999 as one of the six exemplary “best practices” within the State of Illinois. 

“This is an opportunity that will open many doors for you in the next eight years,” Galesburg Junior/Senior High Assistant Principal Jenny Bredemeier said. “You are joining a community of people who want to support and help you to find your own potential and live up to that potential.”

There are currently 54 students enrolled in the Gale Scholars Program, including Knox senior Katie Ponce ’26. Ponce, who is majoring in education, plans to teach in the Galesburg Community School District 205 next fall after she graduates from Knox this spring. 

“For me, being a Gale Scholar has changed my life, not just because of the financial support but also having people in your corner,” Ponce said. “There are mentors, advisors, and peers who believe in you sometimes before you believe in yourself. It’s about having a community that understands your journey and wants to see you succeed. That sense of community is something I will carry with me beyond college. As I prepare to graduate, I plan to stay here in Galesburg and become a teacher in the same community that helped raise and support me. That same community that invested in my growth, I hope to give back by supporting students, encouraging them, and helping them see their own potential like so many people here showed me.”

Chris Carpenter ’08, one of the first Gale Scholars graduates and currently a social studies teacher in the ROWVA School District, also addressed the group, reflecting on his experience as the program's first male graduate.

“This is the 30-year mark of the start of the program. It means a lot to me, especially because I am a teacher, and I teach history,” Carpenter said. “This program has 30 years of changing lives, and that didn’t happen by accident. It took a commitment from people in this community to make sure this program stays around for students like you to have an opportunity that not many other communities offer. To the community members and leaders who made this possible—thank you for turning vision into reality and for continuing to build a legacy that empowers future generations.”