Full Scholarships, Nationally Ranked Programs Bring the Nation s Top Students to UC

The University of Cincinnati is announcing two firsts regarding the top 10 awardees in the $12 million Cincinnatus Scholarship Competition that selects winners not only on their record of academic excellence, but also on leadership and service. The result of the 10th annual scholarship competition marks the first time a full $72,000 Cincinnatus Scholarship – which pays for tuition, fees, room and board and books – was awarded to a student in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (Erica Nuesse of Fayetteville, Ohio), as well as to a student entering the College of Nursing (Samuel Matson, North College Hill, Ohio).

Last winter, more than 2,000 students representing 40 states competed for four different levels of Cincinnatus Scholarships. In this unique scholarship contest on campus, students compete in essay and problem-solving exercises and are evaluated for their leadership skills as well as their academics and record of service. The top contenders are invited back to campus to interview for the opportunity for a $72,000 full award.

The top winners from the Cincinnati USA region are recognized as Presidential Scholars. Here are the 10 full $72,000 Cincinnati Scholarship recipients:

View a summary and photo of all winners.

Presidential Scholars

Asha Daniels, Avondale (Cincinnati), Ohio – The 18-year-old Daniels, a graduate of St. Ursula Academy, will major in fashion design at UC’s top-ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) and is joining UC’s Honors Scholars program for academically talented students. As a child, she attended UC’s award-winning preschool, the Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center – one of the oldest demonstration preschools in the United States. In high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, the St. Ursula Ensemble Theater and Sisters in Cultural Unity, a school organization she led as president her senior year. Daniels served as a student mentor at her high school and at Beech Acres, an agency dedicated to strengthening children and families. Daniels was also co-founder of a youth dance and drama after-school program.

Samuel Matson, North College Hill (Cincinnati), Ohio – Matson, a graduate of North College Hill High School, is the first student entering the College of Nursing to win a full Cincinnatus Scholarship from UC. The 18-year-old was honored by his hometown when the City of North College Hill proclaimed June 5, 2006  “Samuel Herbert Matson Day” for his scholarship award and his accomplishments in the classroom and the community. Among his numerous high school activities, Matson was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government, the Mock Trial Team, choir and his high school drama club. His service activities included peer tutoring and participation with the North College Hill High School Service Leaders, which led to activities with a March of Dimes fundraiser, service at the Clovernook Center for the Visually Impaired and Blind and the high school’s annual Rock-a-Thon to raise money for Churches Active in Northside. In deciding to attend UC, Matson says, “The UC nursing program is one of the best in the country. I also like the location of campus and how there is always something to do. Furthermore, I like the mix of people who attend UC.”  He adds that the full scholarship was a wonderful surprise. “My parents and I still can’t believe it. But they always tell me that I worked very, very hard for it, which is 100 percent true!” Matson is joining the UC Honors Scholars program for academically talented students.

Andrew St. George, Bridgetown (Cincinnati), Ohio – St. George, an 18-year-old graduate and Salutatorian of La Salle High School, will be majoring in aerospace engineering, UC College of Engineering, this fall. He says his campus tour during the Cincinnatus Competition, along with some input from his sister, Erin, a UC junior, helped him decide that UC was where he wanted to pursue his college degree. “The new look of the campus, especially the brand-new Rec Center, along with activities like the Greek life system, were selling points,” he says. During his high school years, St. George excelled in both academics and sports, and was a varsity runner on La Salle’s 2006 Cross Country Division I State Championship Team as well as the 2005 State Runner-up team. He served on the executive council of La Salle’s Student Government, belonged to the Key Club and National Honor Society and achieved Life Scout rank with the Boy Scouts of America. During his four years at La Salle, St. George says he contributed more than 200 hours of community service, including serving as a peer tutor at St. Ignatius, collecting food and clothing for Hurricane Katrina victims as part of a Northside Church partnership and helping to host a dance fundraiser that raised $2,100 to serve the Invisible Children Foundation, an organization working to end genocide in Sudan and Uganda.

Brian Sedziol, Indian Hill (Cincinnati), Ohio – Sedziol, 18, is majoring in civil engineering, College of Engineering. “I’m interested in civil engineering and planning, and UC is strong in both areas. Also, my father, Ken Sedziol, graduated from UC with an electrical engineering degree, and I’ve always been a fan of Bearcat athletics, ” the Indian Hill High School grad says of his choice to enter UC in the fall. Sedziol is joining UC’s Honors Scholars program for academically talented students. His honors include AP Scholar with Distinction, President’s Award for Educational Excellence and National Merit Commended Scholar. His volunteer activities included repairing and packaging used books to send overseas to churches, seminaries and missions – the majority of them located in Africa. His volunteer service also included taking a mission trip to Mexicali, Mexico, and photographing Civil War monuments across Ohio for the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Other top Cincinnatus Winners:

Omayr Ahmed, Fairfield, Ohio – The graduate of Fairfield High School will major in biological sciences in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.

Stephanie Brait, Boston, Mass. - Brait, 18, is a graduate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts and will major in Dramatic Performance at UC's internationally renowned College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) this fall. Stephanie is the first CCM drama student to be awarded the University's top Cincinnatus Scholarship and will be joining UC's Honors Scholars program for academically talented students. Brait's many high school honors activities included serving as Senior Class President, membership in the Amnesty International and Political Awareness Clubs, as well as volunteering for the Admissions Office. Over the years, she has been active in high school and community theater.  In addition to her roles in Mainstage and Black Box productions, other highlights include performing at Lincoln Center and receiving "Excellence in Acting" awards from the Massachusetts HS Drama Guild. Last summer, Brait studied acting in Dublin, Ireland, with the NYU Tisch Theatre Abroad Program. She is working this summer as an acting intern with the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, in association with the Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

Brett Cushing, Lakewood, Ohio – The 18-year-old graduate of Lakewood High School will major in digital design in UC’s top-ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) and is joining the UC Honors Scholars program for academically talented students. Cushing says she became interested in UC after a teacher and counselor informed her about UC’s excellent design program. She previously owned her own art and apparel business, “Pye Productions,” until selling the rights to apparel manufacturer Mighty Fine, Inc., which supplies large retail chains such as Hot Topic. Her numerous honors include membership in the National Honor Society, National Merit Commended Scholar and making highest honor roll. Her service activities included dedicating more than 950 hours over a five-year period volunteering for the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.

Neha Maheshwari, Northville, Mich. – The 17-year-old Maheshwari graduated summa cum laude from Northville High School and plans to major in biochemistry in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. She was accepted into UC’s prestigious Connections program, a dual admissions program that guarantees her entry into the UC College of Medicine once she completes her undergraduate degree. She is joining UC’s Honors Scholars program for academically talented students and will attend the Honors Scholars Freshman Retreat on Sept. 13. Maheshwari is also interested in pursing a minor in piano and took part in her hometown’s Schoolcraft Piano Academy for 10 years. She was active in her high school choir and the school’s varsity swimming and diving team. Maheshwari’s dedication to service resulted in a $1,000 scholarship from Providence Park Hospital, where she was honored as best teen volunteer. Maheshwari was an active participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life fundraiser, Race for the Cure and volunteered at St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen in downtown Detroit. She says the support and love of her family has led to her success.

Erica Nuesse, Fayetteville, Ohio – The 18-year-old graduate of Fayetteville-Perry High School is the first incoming student in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) to receive a full Cincinnatus Award. Nuesse is majoring in special education and has joined the UC Honors Scholars Program. Her volunteer service involved serving as a student mentor for students with multiple disabilities. Her other high school activities included varsity cheerleader, flag corps member, playing first-chair clarinet for concert and pep band; serving as president of her school chapter of the National Honor Society; Student Council Treasurer; and Senior Class Treasurer. “I first became interested in UC when I was younger and watched UC basketball games,” she says. “In doing some college research, I found that UC had a beautiful campus and an amazing academic program. I also chose UC because I wanted to stay near to my family,” she says.

Justin Womeldorff, Kettering, Ohio – The 18-year-old Kettering Fairmont High School valedictorian will enter UC’s aerospace engineering program in the College of Engineering this fall. Womeldorff was co-editor-in-chief of his school news magazine, vice president of his student government, and belonged to the National Honor Society and Quill & Scroll Honor Society. He is joining UC’s Honors Scholars program for academically talented students. Womeldorff took part in annual mission trips to Mexico, Bolivia, Poland and Alaska and also served as a student mentor/tutor as well as volunteered for Special Olympics. One of his hobbies is playing the viola.