Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore Laura Jensen has been named a Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship recipient for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
The Phillips Scholars Program recognizes and rewards Minnesota private college students who strive to make life better for people with unmet needs in Minnesota communities. The program supports potential leaders with outstanding academic credentials who intend to dedicate a portion of their lives to community service. Students from 16 eligible private colleges and universities are invited to apply for one of six $15,650 awards given annually.
Jensen, a Northfield native, plans to develop a program for Hispanic fourth through sixth grade children that will enrich their knowledge of their Latino cultural identity as part of the American culture and provide them with scaffolding help for developing leadership and goal setting skills.
“I believe that discovering and becoming comfortable with your own cultural identity is very important, especially for those of under represented groups in America,” Jensen said. “I feel honored to have the chance to work with the Latino youth in expressing their Latino heritage while gaining leadership skills for the future.”
Jensen is the eighth Gustavus student in the past nine years and ninth in the 13-year history of the program to be named a Phillips Scholar. Previous recipients include Melanie (Larson) Sinouthasy (1998), Sara Imholte (2001), Noah Johnson (2002), Linda Lee (2003), Zong Xiong (2004), Ma Lee Vang (2005), Nhung Le (2006), and Ashley Gibbs (2007).
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