Full Cincinnatus Scholarships Bring Top Students To UC

They’re standouts for their scholarship, leadership and service. Each winter, the University of Cincinnati Cincinnatus Scholarship competition brings thousands of students to campus to compete in essay and problem-solving exercises. The top competitors are then invited back to UC’s campus to interview for a chance to receive a full $64,000 award to pay for tuition, room and board, fees and books.

This year, high school seniors from 38 states vied for four different levels of Cincinnatus scholarships. The top winners from the Tristate are recognized as Presidential Scholars. Here are the 10 full Cincinnatus Scholarship awardees:

Presidential Scholars

Sean Cameron, Cincinnati (Mariemont), Ohio – The 18-year-old graduate of Mariemont High School will enter the prestigious College-Conservatory of Music to major in music education. The John Philip Sousa Award recipient specializes in saxophone and piano, and he was field commander of marching band his junior and senior years in high school. Cameron also won awards for his performances with the drama and digital video programs and was a member of Student Council, Leadership Council, Latin Club and the National Honor Society. Cameron is joining UC’s Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Daniel Elkin, Cincinnati (Indian Hill), Ohio – This 18-year-old graduate of Indian Hill High School will be entering the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate architecture program in the fall and is joining UC’s Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students. Elkin says it was his tour of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning that drew him to UC. He was involved with school theatre, the visual arts club and his high school band, and taught Sunday school as part of his service to the community.

Jessica Wall, Cincinnati (West Chester), Ohio – The 17-year-old graduate of Lakota East High School will enter the top-ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning to major in graphic design. Her high school leadership activities included her school newspaper, the Junior Classical League and the academic quiz team. Her service activities included membership on her local library’s Young Adult Board, working at summer Girl Scout Camp and mathematics tutoring. Jessica is also joining UC’s Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Other Top Cincinnatus Scholars

Benjamin Gantose, Berea, Ohio – The 17-year-old graduate of Berea High School and National Merit Commended student will major in theater design and production at UC’s prestigious College-Conservatory of Music. Gantose was his school’s recipient of the Top Gun Award in Show Choir, was president of the International Thespian Society Troupe 612 and performed in three school choirs, two extracurricular choirs and his church choir. He served on the executive board of his student council and received his school’s highest award for English, the Christine West Award for Excellence.  His community service activities included serving as a cabin and resident counselor at Camp MiBroBe, a Berea City School District one-week camp for sixth-graders. 

Quinn Kummer, Richardson, Texas – The 18-year-old graduate of Plano East Senior High School says it was UC’s top-ranked undergraduate architecture program that drew him to Cincinnati from Texas, plus his father, Stan, is a UC alum. Kummer was a school leader academically, musically and athletically, participating in high school orchestra and the lacrosse team. His service activities include traveling with his church congregation to Arkansas and Kansas to make home improvements in disadvantaged neighborhoods, as well as working with Project Transformation, a summer literacy program for disadvantaged youth. He is joining UC’s Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Laura Moon, West Richland, Wash. – The 18-year-old senior class president of Hanford High School plans to major in biological sciences. Her high school activities included Student Council, ecology club, the math team and honors math club, choir, National Honor Society and orchestra. Moon’s training in classical piano led to a guest artist performance with her two local symphonies. She also has used her talent to perform service, playing piano as a volunteer at a hospital. Other service activities include organizing holiday food and clothing drives. Moon is joining UC’s Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Christopher Stites, Sandusky, Ohio – The 18-year-old valedictorian of Perkins High School will be majoring in computer engineering. Stites was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and was co-captain of the Academic Challenge Team. Stites is an award-winning student in academics, arts and sports. He was a member of his high school marching band and wind ensemble, captain of the track and soccer teams and a member of the Beamer’s Vault Club. His service activities included coordinating peer tutoring programs and serving as a referee and coach for his community’s little league hockey team. He says he decided to come to UC because “UC’s co-op programs are among the best in the nation.” Stites will also be joining the UC Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Richard Valitutto, Greensboro, N.C. – The 18-year-old valedictorian and Student Body President of Bishop McGuinness High School will major in piano at the internationally renowned College-Conservatory of Music. He says he “immediately fell in love with the campus” when he came to UC for the Cincinnatus competition. Valitutto won awards in music, leadership and academics and was a Harvard Model Congress three-time Award of Excellence winner in student senate. His activities also included varsity lacrosse and varsity track. He will be joining the UC Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.

Alissa Weaver, Perrysburg, Ohio – The 18-year-old valedictorian of Central Catholic High School will be entering the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate architecture program in the fall. Weaver was a member of Student Government, the National Honor Society, Pep Commission, Central Catholic Rowing Club and Ping Pong Club. Her service activities included volunteer work at the Vail Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, assisting special needs children and adults in equine therapy. She will be joining the UC Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students. 

Seth Vensil, Frazeysburg, Ohio – The 18-year-old Senior Class President of Tri-Valley High School plans to major in chemistry. He was a member of the National Honor Society, his high school drama club, German Club, ski club, symphonic choir, 4-H Club and the Tri-Valley RuriTeen Club, which emphasizes service learning. From 9-12 grades, Vensil was a member of the Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation and served as vice president his senior year. He will be joining the UC Honors Scholars Program for academically talented students.