Presidential Scholarship Winners Announced

York College announced today the recipients of its most prestigious academic financial award, the Presidential Scholarship.
The Presidential Scholarship, valued at full tuition for four years, was established in 2006 to recognize the merits of incoming freshmen and reward academic achievement as well as moral character.

Qualified candidates were invited to the campus to be interviewed by a panel of the college’s faculty. This year, the panel selected two recipients, Marissa Bressler and Alexis Martens, who will represent the very best of York College starting in the fall 2016 semester.

---

Marissa Bressler - Lake Benton, Minnesota

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 at York College.

---

Alexis Martens--Alden, Minnesota

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 at York College.
​

---

“Marissa and Alexis are not only academically gifted students — they are strong spiritual leaders with outstanding moral character,” said York College President Steve Eckman. “I have no doubt the impact they will have on our campus over the next four years will be significant.”