KINGSVILLE (August 8, 2023) — Makenzie Gottschalk will begin her college career in a few weeks as an honor student and a pre-vet/animal science major at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She brings with her the $40,000 GE-Reagan Scholarship, a prestigious award given to only 11 students nationwide.
Gottschalk discovered the GE-Reagan Scholars program while online searching for other scholarships to help with college costs. “When I read about it, I was drawn to it. They were looking for students that were high achieving, have a strong work ethic, integrity and valued community service. These are all strengths I see in myself,” she said.
The application process was rigorous. She submitted her application in October and was notified in January that she was one of 120 semi-finalists. At that point, she was asked to submit additional information including an essay. By March, she was selected to be interviewed and in April, she was named one of only 11 GE-Reagan Scholars. There were a total of 16,200 applicants.
“I’ll never forget the moment I found out. My mom and I were on our way to College Station for me to be interviewed by the 4-H Scholarship committee,” she said. “We stopped on the way to grab a bite to eat and while waiting for our food, I checked my email. I started to read it out loud and I looked over at my mom and she had tears in her eyes.”
“I feel honored, humbled and proud,” Gottschalk said. “I truly am honored and so very humbled to have received this award.”
What advice does Gottschalk have for others applying for scholarships like this one? “Believe in yourself. Be yourself. Dream big and go for it.”
About Makenzie Gottschalk
Makenzie Gottschalk is the daughter of Trisha Gottschalk and Professor James Glusing. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class from H.M. King High School in Kingsville. In high school, she was active in athletics, Student Council, DECA and FFA. She also served as the school mascot and is a member of the National Honor Society.
As a 10-year member of 4-H, Gottschalk found her place in livestock shows. “4-H offered me a chance to be part of a choice group of people in an industry that has been instrumental in molding me into who I am today.”
Over the past four years, Gottschalk was a member of two 4-H clubs, Santa Gertrudis 4-H Club and Outdoor Country 4-H Club. She has held nearly every office at the local level and represented her clubs as an officer at the county level as well.
Her desire to help children, led Gottschalk to the most rewarding opportunity afforded her, coaching showmanship clinics for young livestock exhibitors from across Texas.
The GE-Reagan Scholar award was not Gottschalk’s only scholarship. She received a number of other awards including the Kleberg Kenedy Junior Livestock Show Academic Scholarship, the Texas Extension Education Agency Academic Scholarship, the Texas A&M-Kingsville Academic Excellence Award, the Texas Leaders Scholar, the 4-H Foundation, the American Legion Scholarship, the Bill and Judy Colston KKJLS Scholarship, the W.E. Cumberland Ag Memorial Scholarship and the Ag Leaders Scholarship.
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