(Leavenworth, Kan.) – University of Saint Mary students Jesena Hernandez, Jessica Bradford, and Sydney Jones are three of the 21 students who received Green and Gold Scholarships from the Kansas Independent College Foundation.

Every year, the KICF awards merit-based scholarships to celebrate diverse and talented students who demonstrate a commitment to excellence, virtue, and integrity. USM nominated students for the scholarship opportunities after an internal selection process.

Hernandez, a nursing major from Leavenworth, Kan., received a Minority Student Scholarship. In the application, Hernandez described her independent college experience at Saint Mary.

“The core values are as follows: community, respect, justice, and excellence,” she wrote. “When considering each one, I began to think of this as a place where your voice can be heard and respected, where people advocate for other’s rights, and where you can find a place to belong, grow, and achieve your dreams. Its further advocacy for liberal arts speaks to the acceptance and striving for knowledge that is inherent to this university. One that is so steeped in its tradition and achievement of excellence, which provided me the opportunity where I could be heard, recognized, and championed for.”

Bradford, a nursing major from Lansing, Kan., was the sole recipient of the Better Life Degree Completion Scholarship. Jones, an elementary education major from Mount Vernon, Iowa, received the Future Leaders in Education Scholarship.

“We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve their goals, regardless of their background or circumstances,” KICF President Matt Lindsey said. “Kansas will succeed when it supports all students, including adult learners, veterans, teachers, parents, and more. These scholarships are our contribution to that success.”

 The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan. USM’s Overland Park Campus at 4500 College Boulevard offers evening accelerated graduate and undergraduate degree-completion programs. The university also offers online programs. Visit 
stmary.edu for more information.