Westmont Welcomes Augustinian Scholars
The 60 Augustinian Scholars who arrive at Westmont in August benefit from significant scholarships, including amounts up to full tuition. They join the 30 inaugural scholars who begin their second year at Westmont this fall. Another anonymous donor has stepped forward to double the number of Augustinians this fall and help even more students afford a college education.
These scholarship recipients participate in the Augustinian Honors Program. “Our goal is to integrate Augustine’s ideas with a contemporary conversation about how committed people of faith honor their convictions while being deeply engaged in the wider issues of our society,” says Jesse Covington, associate professor of political science and director of the program.
About 100 Augustinian Scholarship candidates, who applied Early Action to Westmont, arrived on campus and competed for the scholarships in February.
“Not only was I happy to see that the students around me were genuinely happy to be together, be studying, and meet someone new, but the quality faculty here take a personal interest in seeing their students succeed,” says Grant Thomas, an incoming Augustinian Scholar from Portland, Ore., who hopes to major in cellular and molecular biology and play cello in the orchestra. “It’s that personal investment in students’ academic and religious success that persuaded me to attend Westmont and what made it stand out from all the other colleges I visited leading up to my decision.”
Winston Gee, another new Augustinian Scholar from Boise, Idaho, is considering a degree in biochemistry or data analytics. “I recognize the great opportunities Westmont offers,” he says. “Knowing the next four years are formative in my life, I desire the strong Christian mentors and peers at Westmont who will invest in me both spiritually and intellectually, which lies beyond the main framework of other colleges. I view Westmont as a great place to develop deep relationships and acclimate to my next phase in life.”
As a part of Augustinian Scholars program, Westmont launched its own chapter of the Bridge2Rwanda program last year. This fall, Annie Dusabimana will join our first Rwandan students, Odile Ndayishimiye Uwineza and Festo Mugire Muhire.
The first two Michaelhouse Fellows from South Africa, Luvuyo Magwaza and Mfolozi “Flo” Dlamini, arrived on campus in January.
“The Rwanda and Michaelhouse programs are part of wider efforts underway to develop diversity and global engagement throughout the college,” says President Gayle D. Beebe. “These students truly enrich our overall educational experience.”
The next set of Michaelhouse fellows arrive in January 2018 after they finish their studies in South Africa, which follows the international academic calendar aligning with the January-December calendar.