FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The University of Saint Francis and WANE-TV announced the recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to USF on Tuesday, February 27 at Concordia Lutheran High School. Crystal Grunawalt, a Concordia senior, was given the largest award of the Pay It Forward scholarships for incoming USF students who exhibited a commitment to service and helping others.
Three finalists were chosen to receive large scholarship awards as part of this program, and the other two finalists, Luis Manubes from Angola High School and Taylor Stahl from Leo High School, will each receive half tuition in a four-year renewable scholarship. Each student wrote an essay as part of the scholarship application, explaining how they “Pay it Forward,” and WANE-TV featured the three finalists in special feature stories during the month of February.
“The University of Saint Francis has a long tradition of producing graduates with a deep sense of community and a dedication to serving others,” said President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF. ”The Pay It Forward scholarship has a direct connection to our Franciscan values, and we were so thrilled to see these stories of young people like Crystal who are living those values every day.”
When asked about her future plans after receiving the scholarship, Crystal said, “I am going to study nursing at USF so I can help others and share God’s love with those who are hurting.”
More information about University of Saint Francis scholarships can be found at go.sf.edu/sf-scholarships.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. In 2016, the University of Saint Francis expanded its presence to downtown Fort Wayne. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 16 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships, and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,300 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.