Mobile’s Best Awarded $100,000 Scholarships to Spring Hill College

Feb 20th, 2004

Mobile, Ala. - Three of Mobile's best and brightest high school seniors have been named Spring Hill Scholars and will receive four-year scholarships totaling $100,000 each to attend Spring Hill College.

Catherine Fair, valedictorian at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Emily Haynes, salutatorian at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School and Jordan Hayles, valedictorian at Murphy High School, are among five seniors awarded the College's highest academic scholarship. Stephen Ware, salutatorian at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, and Patti Archer, valedictorian at Holy Names High School in Pleasanton, Calif. were also selected.

The scholarships were awarded this week following Scholarship Day Feb. 14, at which more than 100 students from across the country competed for the honor. Each student participated in interviews with a faculty selection committee followed by an essay-writing exercise. Prior to Scholarship Day, each student submitted a scholarship application, completed a leadership/service resume and wrote two essays in order to qualify for an invitation to the event.

"I want to congratulate our Spring Hill Scholars and all of those students who were with us for Scholarship Day," said Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J., president of Spring Hill College. "I was extremely proud of the academic quality and service-mindedness of all ofthe candidates, and I look forward to the impact these students will have on our campus as they shape the future for Spring Hill College and later the world."

McGill-Toolen senior Catherine Fair is an Azalea Trail Maid and is editor of the high school yearbook. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is a National Merit Semifinalist. Fair started the Performing Readers program at McGill in which local high school students visit daycare centers to promote reading and the arts. She is a lector and altar server and teaches liturgy to children at her church. She plans to major in chemistry and minor in Spanish, and after medical school, she plans to become a cardiologist.

Emily Haynes, also a McGill-Toolen senior, is president of the FEC Club and co-president of KEPA Campus Ministry. She is a member of Youth Leadership Mobile and is a National Merit Semifinalist. Haynes volunteers more than 400 hours per year as a counselor at Camp SMILE and also started sign language classes at McGill-Toolen for her peers. She plans to major in professional writing.

Murphy High School senior Jordan Hayles was chosen as Mobile County's 2003-04 Junior Miss, the first African-American to hold the title. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was a member of Youth Leadership Mobile. Hayles currently serves on the National Conference for Community and Justice heritage panel and is a National Merit Semifinalist. She's been honored with a number of performing arts awards including best choreography award from Company Dance Convention. She plans to major in pre-medical studies.

John Carroll Catholic High School senior Stephen Ware is an Eagle Scout and is a member of Order of the Arrow. He is co-director of CROSS (Catholics Reaching Out in Selfless Service) and is a counselor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Birmingham. Ware is captain of the science Olympiad team and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is active in theater and choir and is a member of the JCSH chess team. He has not yet declared a major.

Patti Archer is a senior at Holy Names Catholic High School in Pleasanton, Calif. where she is captain of the varsity basketball team and recipient of the 2003 North Coast Section Scholar Athlete Award. Archer is a student ambassador for her school and is also a member of the National Honor Society. She is a campus ministry student leader and volunteers with the mentally and physically challenged. The daughter of Spring Hill alumnus John Archer '78, Patti Archer plans to major in theology and communication arts.

In addition to its Spring Hill Scholars, Spring Hill College also awarded 20 Trustee Honors Scholarships and 75 Presidential Scholarships following Scholarship Day. The four-year scholarships range from $10,000 annually to $15,000 annually.

For more information on Scholarship Day, Spring Hill College admissions or any of the award recipients, contact Steve Pochard, dean of admissions, at 251-380-3030. Visit Spring Hill College on the web at www.shc.edu.