Ten Galesburg eighth-graders recently were selected for the George Washington Gale Scholars program. Every year, this academic program partners Knox College, Carl Sandburg College, and Galesburg School District 205 to provide each of the 10 accepted scholars with a path to a free college education.

A formal induction ceremony for the new scholars is to be held in fall 2020.

Students who successfully complete the program during their time in high school receive free tuition to Carl Sandburg College and Knox College. The program features summer enrichment courses, community service opportunities, extracurricular activities, and demanding academic coursework and special-skills workshops to prepare the students for collegiate studies.

These students, who will be in the high school graduating class of 2024, went through a rigorous application process that considered various factors, including an essay, grades, and school attendance. The Gale Scholars Program is open to academically promising and income-eligible youth within Galesburg District 205 who would be the first in their families to attend college.

The Gale Scholars were interviewed multiple times, most recently by video calls on District 205-issued Chromebooks, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The George Washington Gale Scholars Program was founded in 1996 and is named after the founder of Galesburg and Knox College. The program celebrates the impact that a community has on its future leaders.

“The Gale Scholars Program is truly one of the bright lights in our community,” said program director Steve Cheesman.

Below are the names of the 2020 Gale Scholars:

Lilliana Burns
Yannick Deh
Trinity Greer
Luis Hernandez
Tristan Hunt
Mattisson Jackson
Nicolas Makwala
Kenny Mensah
Skylar Wenstrom
Sydney Zesch

Pictured above is 2020 Gale Scholar Tristan Hunt.