2023 Sonlight Scholarship Winners Introduced

Malia is a highschool senior, born in america. For the previous decade, she has lived in South America: first, in Bogotá, Colombia; and at present in Asunción, Paraguay. She speaks English and Spanish at residence and is happy to be choosing up some Guarani. Malia performs the oboe, swims competitively, volunteers at church, enjoys jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, and commonly experiments with cookie recipes.

At an early age, Malia purchased into Sonlight’s academic philosophy “hook, line, and sinker.” Her love for literature fueled her education. Her library is replete with a whole lot of tattered covers, most of which got here in eagerly-awaited, yearly Sonlight mailings. Apart from her household and shut circle, her mentors and mates by way of the years have included Eloise McGraw, E.L. Konigsburg, Louisa Might Alcott, Jules Verne, J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Agatha Christie, and Leo Tolstoy.

After arriving in Paraguay, Malia developed a robust curiosity in tropical illness and neighborhood well being. The pliability of homeschooling allowed her to work with just lately found tribes in Paraguay’s Chaco area, deprived communities in Asunción, and people affected by lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and Hansen’s illness (leprosy).

In 2021, Malia created Mission Keen to assist useful resource a leper colony in Sapucai, Paraguay. Mission Keen will get its identify from Luke 5: The leper mentioned to Jesus, “Lord, in case you are prepared, you can also make me clear;” and the Lord mentioned, “I’m prepared.” Mission Keen at present provides all non-prescription medical provides for the colony’s 60 residents and is investing in long-term sustainability initiatives. Malia’s continued, shut contact with the residents has been life-changing. Please go to www.ruwilling.org for extra data.

In school, Malia plans to pursue a course of research centered on psychology and neighborhood well being to impact extra optimistic, multi-disciplinary options to well being challenges in deprived communities at residence and overseas. Malia plans on taking a spot 12 months to proceed her in-country administration of Mission Keen and present research of tropical illness in Paraguay.

Petra H., of Orting, WA, is set to comply with God wherever He leads. Impressed by most of the tales she learn whereas utilizing Sonlight curriculum from Ok-12, she feels that God is looking her to serve within the Center East. In preparation to comply with this calling, she spent her highschool years educating herself Arabic. She has at all times loved the liberty that homeschooling has given her to pursue her pursuits and has used that point to guide her personal youngsters’s Bible membership, sew her personal traditionally impressed garments, take part in a speech and debate membership, and spend her additional time learning anatomy and physiology. Throughout highschool, she developed a love for chemistry, biology, and drugs, which helped to guide her within the path of nursing. To verify each her calling to nursing and her calling to the Center East, after graduating in Might of 2022, she determined to take a spot 12 months. For the primary 5 months, she labored with a corporation in Israel that helps Arab youngsters born with coronary heart defects obtain life-saving surgical procedure in Israeli hospitals. Throughout this time, she feels that God really confirmed her calling to nursing. After spending Christmas together with her dad and mom and 4 youthful brothers, she returned to the Center East and is now working to enhance her Arabic and research the tradition whereas serving to to homeschool the youngsters of Christian employees there. She is trying ahead to attending nursing college at Dordt College this fall. She trusts that God will lead her in His will, and she or he prays that He’ll grant her the power to comply with Him wherever He leads.

“The steadfast love of the LORD by no means ceases; his mercies by no means come to an finish; they’re new each morning; nice is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘subsequently I’ll hope in him.'”

Lamentations 3:22-24

Ebahi O. was born right into a missionary household and has traveled internationally her complete childhood. She grew up watching after which working alongside her dad and mom as they served in a number of nations, together with Benin, Nigeria, and Romania. As she grew and fell in love with the Lord, she developed one predominant life purpose that dictates all her selections: to glorify God. She was blessed to have the chance to serve in medical missions in Benin, assist look after orphans, train English in Romania, and a lot extra as she tried to serve in any method she may. She additionally cherished taking part in her youth group and later turning into a mentor to youthful women and different homeschool college students.

Ebahi was taught with Sonlight her total schooling. Sonlight supplied the rigorous however versatile curriculum that her household’s travels required. She took 10 AP Programs and loved difficult herself academically. She additionally had the liberty to completely pursue her different pursuits comparable to pottery, canine coaching, animal rescues, and serving to homeschool her youthful siblings. Every time stateside, she loved dancing and was a part of a efficiency group. Homeschooling allowed her to expertise actual life a lot sooner than her friends, in addition to have some unimaginable adventures (comparable to being chased by an elephant). It additionally allowed her time and alternative to develop a deep and private relationship with Jesus Christ. She can’t wait to show, the Sonlight method, to her personal youngsters sooner or later.

Ebahi has many ambitions and concepts. The Lord has guided her into her subsequent step; she might be attending the College of Notre Dame, the place she is going to research Civil engineering. She personally skilled the day by day hardships many individuals face their complete lives because of horrible dwelling circumstances within the creating nations the place she lived. In consequence, she would love to make use of her diploma in creating nations the place infrastructure is severely missing, or prepare and help missionaries. Wherever The Lord leads, she hopes to at all times be a lightweight and serve others selflessly as Jesus did.

Alyssa S. was born to International Staff Mark and Kim S. in Armenia in 2005. On the age of 5, she began homeschooling. A 12 months later, the S. household found Sonlight and fell in love with homeschooling. They by no means seemed again. They continued to homeschool with Sonlight with Alyssa’s two youthful siblings, Maddy and Caleb, and through their transfer to Spain.

Alyssa is proud to have homeschooled all by way of college. She is grateful for the pliability and tailor-made studying that homeschool permits, the love of studying she acquired, the worldwide perspective, and the way homeschool grew her relationship with Jesus. In all their travels, the S. household learn Sonlight books in 10+ nations. By college initiatives, Alyssa felt the Lord calling her to check nursing and serve ladies in creating nations. In Grade 10, she started coaching as a doula, and has been in a position to serve in that capability on three continents.

Alyssa has additionally been privileged to co-lead her youth group’s missions group, a pioneer ministry devoted to elevating missionary consciousness and engagement amongst Spanish youth and sharing the love of Jesus in Spain and internationally.

In Grade 12, she started educating ESL courses to 2 homeschool households. As homeschooling could be very uncommon in Spain, this was a singular and particular connection for her.

Alyssa graduated highschool in Spain in 2022. She is thrilled to start learning nursing and appears ahead to constructing on what she realized with Sonlight and entering into the journey the Lord has for her.

Timothy B. has been a missionary child for his complete life—first in Kazakhstan, and now in Hovd, Mongolia. When reflecting on his previous eighteen years, he describes them as “every part however what I anticipated them to be”, and between numerous worldwide flights, twelve surprising strikes, and frequent thousand-mile highway journeys in sub-zero temperatures, it’s clear he means it. Regardless of this, and perhaps since he doesn’t know any higher, he completely enjoys his life, having realized by no means to be apprehensive concerning the future, since he’s satisfied that God is aware of what He’s doing. Nonetheless, he has additionally realized to at all times be ready, and has picked up a number of helpful abilities like puppet-making, graphic design, carpentry, constructing large Lego dioramas, taking part in the violin, and writing.

His schooling has been a jumble of native Kazakh-language faculties, on-line courses, homeschool co-ops, and 12 Sonlight cores—which have given him an inquiring thoughts and a love for studying. Now, as Timothy finishes highschool, he plans to additional his schooling at Concordia College, Nebraska, the place he’ll research music. He says it “might be one more massive corner-rounding in my life. I’m about as daunted by it as by the prospect of spending thirty-six hours in a busy airport terminal: it could alarm me barely, however I’m extra excited than the rest.”

No matter new, surprising adventures await Timothy at school, he is aware of that “wherever you might be there are individuals who want Jesus; and also you is usually a missionary wherever, whether or not or not you might be referred to as to a sure group of individuals, or to a sure church—and even in case you are, that doesn’t restrict who you may share the Gospel with!” Timothy doesn’t know but precisely what sort of future is in retailer for him, however he’s assured that God does.

Sophia C. of Augusta, Georgia, has been homeschooled since kindergarten and has used Sonlight supplies all through her academic journey. The youngest of six youngsters, she is the fifth little one who has utilized and been chosen to obtain the Sonlight scholarship, for which she is extraordinarily grateful. Desirous to turn into a doctor assistant, she is going to use the scholarship at a Christian school starting this fall.

Sophia is a robust chief as evidenced by her function in Science Olympiad. As mission chief and high scorer for the group, she has gained 12 regional awards in fields as numerous as cryptanalysis, rocketry, forensic science, and ornithology. A member of the varsity math group and two honor societies, she can also be dual-enrolled at a neighborhood college.

Sophia has sung with the church choir and the refrain of a neighborhood college since her elementary years. She has carried out with 4 totally different theatre corporations and has carried out in 17 totally different productions, 14 of them musicals. In February, she seems in a neighborhood theatre manufacturing of Joseph and the Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat, and in April, she is Maria in The Sound of Music at a neighborhood highschool. Along with performing, singing, and dancing, she has constructed units and dabbled in choreography.

Significantly significant to Sophia has been the weekly Bible research group with different highschool women in addition to a two-week intensive apologetics course with Summit Ministries this previous summer time in Colorado. She additionally traveled together with her grandfather, a retired seminary professor, to India and loved pleasant fellowship with Indian believers. Beloved “Aunt Fifi” to 5 nieces and nephews, Sophia loves her household and doesn’t bat an eyelash at studying Good Canine Carl yet another time. In her spare time, she likes to crochet, dabbles in songwriting, and relaxes by taking part in the piano.

Caleb G., at present dwelling in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has cherished studying and tales since he was three years previous. That love of books result in his love of Sonlight since 1^st grade. Whereas, at the very least in keeping with household and mates, Caleb is a brilliant, considerate peacemaker, he readily admits that “I typically battle with indecisiveness, nervousness, and selfishness.” Although, contemplating his Nationwide Advantage Counseled Scholar standing, CLT rating of 117, and his quite a few synchronous volunteer positions, his household and mates are most likely nearer to the reality.

Caleb grew up in China and had an in depth buddy group of different worldwide college students there. One among his favourite recollections is the time his mates freely volunteered, with no hesitation, to assist his household by way of a troublesome transfer. In 2020, Caleb moved again to the states in a futile try to flee the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the increase from his mates led him to volunteer by way of the ZTA homeschool honor society and Roots and Shoots Youth farm. He has additionally been in a position to strive new, American experiences since becoming a member of a neighborhood homeschool co-op, together with co-captaining a soccer group and a quiz bowl group. In his free time, Caleb enjoys taking part in technique board video games comparable to Energy Grid and Dominion.

Caleb’s favourite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, overused and abused as it’s. “’For I do know the plans I’ve for you’ – that is the LORD’s declaration – ‘plans in your well-being, not for catastrophe, to offer you a future and a hope.’” That is lucky, as a result of as of but Caleb has no data of the main points in a lot of His plan. What he does know is that he plans to pursue his love of books and research God’s spectacular creation in school. Caleb additionally hopes to check overseas and attend an honors program, however most significantly, will symbolize Christ and serve others wherever he goes.

Avielle S. lives in Douglassville, PA, and has used Sonlight for her total schooling. She is a Nationwide Advantage Counseled pupil. Avielle has been taking part in the piano since age 5 and the violin since age 9, and she or he feels referred to as to serve God by way of music. She has participated in lots of orchestras, together with on the district and regional stage. Avielle performs keyboard on the worship group at her church, an expertise which permits her to make use of her abilities to glorify God. She has additionally volunteered within the church nursery over time and loves serving to out at Trip Bible Faculty each summer time. Avielle has gone on a number of mission’s journeys to Costa Rica with a group from her church, the place she was in a position to minister to children. Final summer time, she had an equally impactful expertise on a mission’s journey to Kentucky together with her youth group. Avielle has been accepted into the Honors Program at Liberty College and plans on majoring in music efficiency. Moreover taking part in in skilled orchestras, she would love to show personal piano and violin classes sooner or later. Nonetheless, no matter her future profession, Avielle will comply with 1 Corinthians 10:31, “…no matter you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Micah E. of Hockessin, Delaware opened her first Sonlight ebook in kindergarten and has not often been with out one since! Along with exploring the world by way of good literature, she has spent the final 12 years of her schooling increasing her view and gaining wealthy experiences by way of a wide range of extracurricular actions and volunteer alternatives. Her historical past and schooling by way of Sonlight has allowed her to confidently pursue roles of management in her neighborhood, church ministries, and youth teams.

Supported by the robust spine of Sonlight, Micah has tailor-made her schooling to match her distinctive pursuits and abilities. She maintained a 4.0 GPA whereas pursuing honors and twin enrollment programs and creating a love of calculus, physics, English, and chemistry. She has performed varsity soccer and swam all through her highschool profession and may typically be discovered doing MMA and CrossFit-style exercises.

A lot of her pleasure, nevertheless, is discovered within the arts. Whether or not she is watching the Prix de Lausanne, learning music concept, harmonizing with a Sondheim musical, main worship for 2 youth teams, or just having fun with basic literature, that is the place Micah prefers to spend her time. She has been concerned in speech and debate courses and gained Finest Witness within the Delaware Excessive Faculty Mock Trial Competitors, which she competed in for 2 years.

Moreover, Micah has been an avid baker since age 3 and began her personal baking enterprise throughout the fall of her junior 12 months. She will get nice satisfaction from experimenting within the kitchen and creating scrumptious treats for her household and neighborhood.

Above all, Micah’s religion reigns supreme in her life. Although she is at present undecided as to what she might be learning over the subsequent 4 years, she trusts that God will information her to an space that may make use of her analytical and artistic thoughts and that He’ll use her to affect each her area people and God’s kingdom.

Frederick “Eric” R. of Beavercreek, OH, has used Sonlight’s gospel-oriented curriculum since third grade. Eric loves music. He has studied piano for 10 years and took part within the Nationwide Piano Taking part in Auditions for 7 years. He additionally performs French Horn within the Springfield Youth Symphony, and was hand-picked from the symphony members to play in each a brass and woodwind quintet. Because the symphony’s former operations director can attest, “Eric is undeniably gifted, however what makes him so particular and very important to our program is his self-discipline and preparation for each rehearsal.”

Eric additionally has a love for God and a ardour for His church. Within the phrases of his father, “[Eric] genuinely needs to serve the Lord in every part he does…” He has been blessed to serve his church as an AV technician, working in a two-man group to run audio mixing, slides, and the reside stream. He’s additionally tremendously concerned together with his church’s yearly VBS program. Due to his love for God and his coronary heart of service, he was chosen to be a part of the Youth Council, serving to to guide the youth group and foster a spirit of discipleship.

When not reffing or taking part in leisure soccer, or working in a neighborhood mowing enterprise, Eric spends his remaining free time educating himself a number of laptop coding languages and dealing on his personal engineering passion initiatives. To assist within the completion of those initiatives, he has additionally taught himself fundamental linear algebra, 3D printing, and customized circuit board design, amongst many different issues. Eric dives into new initiatives with out being intimidated by the work required. Due to his ardour for fixing engineering issues, Eric is planning on attending Cedarville College or Grove Metropolis School to check Electrical Engineering. Whereas he doesn’t know what the Lord has in retailer for him, he trusts that God will use his schooling to be a blessing to these each inside and outdoors the church. Eric wishes that his life would exemplify 2 Timothy 4:7-8 and that each one he does can be to the glory of his Savior.

Lauren P. of Chicago, IL has homeschooled since third grade, and has used Sonlight all through. Homeschooling has given her the pliability to guide authorities and ministry organizations in her neighborhood, coaching up future leaders, and serving deprived youngsters. She plans to main in political science to additional this ardour.

One option to search change is to become involved with the federal government course of. For the reason that begin of homeschooling, Lauren has participated in TeenPact Management faculties, a weeklong program in each state the place youth find out about authorities, civic engagement, and servant management. For the previous three years, she held a place as workers, first in her residence state, after which in a number of states, operating a week-long program for her friends. This 12 months, she had one other alternative to become involved with politics first-hand, serving as a legislative intern for a delegate in state authorities.

Lauren additionally has a ardour for caring for youngsters in want. Rising up in Chicago, she has been surrounded by the brokenness of households, and the crumbling ruins of a foster care system the place lower than half the youngsters who enter it ever see their dad and mom once more. A number of years in the past she grew to become concerned with an answer to that drawback — Secure Households, a corporation that cares for youngsters in disaster earlier than they should enter the foster care system. Wanting to discover a option to serve these youngsters and households, Lauren fashioned a help arm of Secure Households at her church to return alongside internet hosting households taking in youngsters in disaster with a provide closet to offer fundamental provides to alleviate any monetary burden. She has promoted Secure Households throughout the 11 places of her church and Chicago to additional unfold the phrase, and now serves as a ministry lead for Secure Households for Chicago and leads a group of youth who oversee this department.

TeenPact and Secure Households are two giant components of Lauren’s story, as are her households’ two worldwide adoptions of three youngsters. However she is at the start a follower of Christ with a ardour for youngsters in want.

Esther N. of Siloam Springs, AR, has at all times wished to be a missionary. Sonlight’s missionary tales bolstered these she heard from world companions who visited her residence and church. Sonlight Curriculum, which she used pre-Ok by way of highschool, launched her to nice books and helped her develop God’s coronary heart for the world.

Esther wishes to construct relationships with folks from totally different backgrounds and share God’s love with them, so she joined the volleyball and observe groups at her native public highschool. She’s interacted with non-believers day by day and had a optimistic affect on her groups. Her volleyball coach says, “Esther just lately shared her testimony at an FCA particular occasion. Her boldness to inform others what God has finished for her was inspirational and confirmed me her coronary heart for the Nice Fee.” Esther has developed her athletic talents and been a lightweight for Christ as she has participated in public college sports activities, incomes all-conference honors in observe and recognition from her teammates for “…being prepared to step up and run at a second’s discover, being aggressive and hard-working, and exhibiting integrity and dedication.”

Esther is obsessed with little children. She is an in-demand babysitter. She’s volunteered at an after-school tutoring program and helps at a non-profit that works with youngsters with disabilities and their siblings. She teaches Sunday Faculty and has labored as a summer time camp counselor for elementary women. Her affiliate pastor writes, “Esther is uniquely gifted in working with youngsters. Not solely can she instruct them effectively, however she is conscious of the better wants that they could have in life. Esther additionally transitions very simply with youngsters, from speaking about life and faculty to speaking about Christ.”

In her free time, Esther enjoys baking, sharing her scrumptious cupcakes, scones, and cookies together with her teammates, household, and mates. She likes to learn.

Esther plans to attend John Brown College the place she hopes to develop academically and spiritually and develop abilities she will use working with youngsters and within the mission area at residence or abroad by learning elementary schooling, intercultural research, or household and human providers.

Ezekiel D. of Taichung, Taiwan has used Sonlight since kindergarten. After his household moved to Taiwan to turn into missionaries when he was six, he attended a missionary college for 2 years, however the advantages of a homeschool life-style have been simple and he returned to homeschooling, giving him time to discover the fantastic thing about Taiwan and its tradition. Dwelling in Taiwan, he has been concerned with ministry from a younger age and enjoys working in ministry alongside his household. He has helped with a number of week-long evangelistic Bible camps for Taiwanese highschool college students, has helped host a number of journeys to show particular wants college students, and is a part of a gaggle of seniors touring to Malaysia this spring to do outreach with native college students. He’s an lively member of the Taiwanese home church that meets in his residence and a frontrunner of the student-led youth group on the native missionary college. One among his favourite components of ministry is exhibiting off his adopted homeland to Individuals who come to Taiwan to assist workers summer time camps.

Ezekiel has been blessed by a unbroken homeschool partnership with the missionary college, permitting him to take part in quite a few extracurricular actions, together with observe, cross nation, and soccer, the place relaxed Covid restrictions lastly allowed his group to journey to a world event hosted in Thailand his senior 12 months. He has additionally performed trombone within the band and a small brass ensemble since his freshman 12 months and acted in performs and musicals all through center and highschool, together with The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie and two Broadway musicals, most notably taking part in Laurie within the Broadway model of Little Ladies.

Ezekiel’s plans for the longer term are to attend Bible school within the Midwest and he’s undecided about his future plans, however rising up abroad has given him a love for international cultures and languages, so he’s searching for alternatives to serve in ministry wherever God sends him.