York College has announced the finalists for its most prestigious academic financial
award, the Presidential Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to one incoming freshman
each year and recognizes academic achievement as well as high moral character.
Finalists for this award are Marissa Bressler (Lake Benton, Minn.), Mattea Reeb (Marana, Ariz.), Hannah Anderson (York, Neb.), Alexis Martens (Alden, Minn.) and Austin Hackel (Broken Bow, Neb.).
To be considered for this award, students must meet high academic standards as well as submit written essays and other application materials. Top candidates are invited to campus for interviews to determine the recipient of the President’s Scholar. All finalists will receive the Dean’s Scholarship.The Presidential Scholarship recipient will be announced in the coming weeks.
Finalists for this award are Marissa Bressler (Lake Benton, Minn.), Mattea Reeb (Marana, Ariz.), Hannah Anderson (York, Neb.), Alexis Martens (Alden, Minn.) and Austin Hackel (Broken Bow, Neb.).
To be considered for this award, students must meet high academic standards as well as submit written essays and other application materials. Top candidates are invited to campus for interviews to determine the recipient of the President’s Scholar. All finalists will receive the Dean’s Scholarship.The Presidential Scholarship recipient will be announced in the coming weeks.
About the finalists
Marissa Bressler
Marissa Bressler is involved in many activities and organizations including a variety
of vocal and instrumental ensembles, color guard, competitive speech, track, theater,
National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Family, Career
and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She is also the student body president and
the color guard captain. She frequently participates in community service activities
such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, hospital, library, and elementary school,
as well as at her church.
Bressler’s list of awards and honors is impressive and varied: winner of the Freshman Academic Award; FCCLA district top superior, state illustrated talk winner and national gold medalist; Most Valuable Speaker award for oral interpretation; participant in numerous honor bands and choirs; and American Legion Essay contest local and district winner. Bressler participates in pageants and has won awards for poise and appearance, creativity, academics, and community service. In 2015, she was the runner up in the Miss Lake Benton competition.
Marissa intends to major in biology and chemistry.
Bressler’s list of awards and honors is impressive and varied: winner of the Freshman Academic Award; FCCLA district top superior, state illustrated talk winner and national gold medalist; Most Valuable Speaker award for oral interpretation; participant in numerous honor bands and choirs; and American Legion Essay contest local and district winner. Bressler participates in pageants and has won awards for poise and appearance, creativity, academics, and community service. In 2015, she was the runner up in the Miss Lake Benton competition.
Marissa intends to major in biology and chemistry.
Mattea Reeb
Mattea Reeb is an honor roll student who has regularly been recognized for her academic
achievements. She is a member of the National Honor Society. She is also very involved
in athletics as captain of the JV volleyball team for two years and captain of the
varsity team for two years. In 2015 she was ranked First Team All State for her prowess
on the court. She also participated in the swim team for two years.
Her community service activities include volunteer coaching for a youth club volleyball team, peer tutoring, and as a timer for school swim team events.
Mattea intends to major in pre-med. She plans to attend medical school and become a doctor, as her greatest passion in life is helping others.
Her community service activities include volunteer coaching for a youth club volleyball team, peer tutoring, and as a timer for school swim team events.
Mattea intends to major in pre-med. She plans to attend medical school and become a doctor, as her greatest passion in life is helping others.
Hannah Anderson
A perfect GPA and high test scores are just the tip of the iceberg for Hannah Anderson.
The York native is active in music, theater, and speech/debate activities. She has
won awards at the Yorkshire Playhouse and for the Aurora Classical Conversations Science
Fair and has scored highly in national piano competitions. She has volunteered as
a docent at Wessels Living History Farm for eight years. She also volunteers at the
local rescue mission and nursing homes. She is very active in service and outreach
with her church, including being a featured speaker at a recent women’s ministry event.
Anderson intends to major in history with a minor in music.
Anderson intends to major in history with a minor in music.
Alexis Martens
Honor roll student Alexis Martens is the vice president of the senior class and has
lettered in academics. She is active in music and theater and has excelled in those
areas, including four “superior” ratings on solos and duets; numerous stage performances;
and two directorial experiences for student dramatics.
Her community service activities include volunteering at a community clothing bank, distributing meals as part of a disaster relief program, and a mission trip to St. Louis.
Martens intends to major in elementary education.
Her community service activities include volunteering at a community clothing bank, distributing meals as part of a disaster relief program, and a mission trip to St. Louis.
Martens intends to major in elementary education.
Austin Hackel
Honor roll student Austin Hackel has seen great success participating in music and
competitive speech events, including superior ratings for french horn and vocal solos
and awards for “Outstanding Novice Speaker” and “Most Improved Speaker” for speech
events. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was named “Outstanding Junior
Member” for his local chapter. Currently he serves as the chapter president.
In addition to band, choir, and speech, Hackel is involved in journalism as the senior editor of the student newspaper. He is also a member of the spanish club, captain of the quiz bowl team, and serves on student council. He is active in the community in a variety of ways, ranging from work at an elementary afterschool program, to volunteering at a city mission, to trash pick-up projects with 4-H.
Hackel intends to major in biblical studies, but is also interested in pursuing a medical degree.
In addition to band, choir, and speech, Hackel is involved in journalism as the senior editor of the student newspaper. He is also a member of the spanish club, captain of the quiz bowl team, and serves on student council. He is active in the community in a variety of ways, ranging from work at an elementary afterschool program, to volunteering at a city mission, to trash pick-up projects with 4-H.
Hackel intends to major in biblical studies, but is also interested in pursuing a medical degree.