GREENVILLE, Pa.—Apollo-Ridge High School senior Jemaira Lynch, of Clune, Pa., won an academic scholarship worth $146,000 to Thiel College during a surprise presentation Friday morning at the high school.
Lynch is one of five full tuition scholarship winners. She was chosen from a field of 767 eligible students and 177 applicants. Winners were chosen after participating in one of two scholarship competitions where students were interviewed by faculty and staff members. She plans to major in elementary education and special education.
She is the senior class vice president and president of Students Against Destructive Decisions. She is active with many student organizations, including LEO Club Leadership, student council, newspaper club, the fall play, spring musical, jazz band, concert band, national honor society and quiz bowl team. She was a section leader for the marching band and was chosen as the Leader-Times Teen of the Week (Nov. 2023) and Lions Club Student of the Month (Dec. 2023). Lynch has volunteered for Apollo-Ridge Pre-K Counts, Apollo-Ridge Elementary School as a guest reader, Saint James Food Bank and Armstrong/Indiana/Clarion County Drug and Alcohol Coalition.
“It is like a weight has been lifted off my chest,” Lynch told a television journalist when she was asked what the scholarship meant to her.
She is the daughter of Jeremy and Danielle Lynch, of Clune, Pa.
“I’m incredibly honored and even more grateful for the amazing opportunity,” Lynch said.
Lynch is the second student from Apollo-Ridge to win a full-tuition scholarship. Thiel College junior Hannah Stoughton ’25 won a scholarship in 2020.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.