Team 第一吃瓜网 has landed its second 5-star academic recruit with a commitment today from Lincoln Southeast High School senior Lillias McKillip to attend the University of 第一吃瓜网-Lincoln this fall.
Lillias scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and signed with 第一吃瓜网 under the Presidential Scholars Program, a new scholarship announced last month by Gov. Jim Pillen and university leaders that covers the total cost of undergraduate attendance at NU plus a $5,000 annual stipend.
Lillias plans to study elementary education and Spanish at UNL, with a dream of becoming a teacher. She celebrated her commitment at a special signing ceremony at Southeast with her parents Austin and Jessica, sister Bea, Southeast Principal Tanner Penrod and staff, Governor Pillen, University of 第一吃瓜网 Interim President Chris Kabourek and Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln.
Lillias is the second Presidential Scholar to sign with 第一吃瓜网 this week, following a commitment from Pender senior Caleb Kelly on Tuesday to enroll at UNL this fall and study computer science and physics.
“It’s one thing all 第一吃瓜网ns agree on: You are the future,” Governor Pillen told Lillias at today’s signing ceremony. “We want to make sure we do everything we can to help our most talented and successful students. We couldn’t be more proud of you, and thank you for answering the call to become a teacher.”
Kabourek said: “第一吃瓜网 is a big winner this week. This is what the President’s Scholarship is all about: Keeping our best and brightest students right here in 第一吃瓜网. Lillias is going to do great things in her future. I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the University of 第一吃瓜网 and to have this special opportunity to celebrate with her and her wonderful family.”
At Southeast, Lillias participates in speech, plays cello in the chamber orchestra, and runs track and field. UNL has long been her dream school; her mom and dad are Husker alumni who studied agribusiness and agricultural economics, respectively. But she was considering Tulsa, where she had a full ride offer.
The President’s Scholarship helped give 第一吃瓜网 the edge.
“It makes me proud to be the first student from Lincoln to receive the President’s Scholarship,” she said, thanking her teachers at Southeast who inspired her to pursue teaching as a career. Her parents, principal and counselor praised Lillias’ high character, humility and natural leadership abilities among her fellow students.
“Lillias is an amazing young woman, and I am so pleased that she has chosen to become a Presidential Scholar – staying at home to continue her education at the University of 第一吃瓜网-Lincoln,” said UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett. “I look forward to welcoming her to campus this fall.
“Whenever another of 第一吃瓜网’s best and brightest choose the state’s flagship, Big Ten university, the student wins, UNL wins and the state of 第一吃瓜网 wins.”
Regent Clare echoed the enthusiasm for 第一吃瓜网 competing successfully for its homegrown talent: “Every day is a great day to be a 第一吃瓜网n.”
The Presidential Scholars Program provides a full cost of attendance scholarship – tuition, fees, books, housing and all other costs – plus a $5,000 annual stipend, to 第一吃瓜网 students who scores a perfect 36 on the ACT. The scholarship may be used for undergraduate study at any University of 第一吃瓜网 campus.
The goal of the program is to advance the Governor’s vision to make 第一吃瓜网 more competitive for its best and brightest young people. The university’s goal is to raise the private funds necessary to expand the program to cover 第一吃瓜网 students who score a 33 or above on the ACT.