Fifteen Galesburg junior high school students comprise the newest class of inductees into the George Washington Gale Scholars Program. The students were honored in the induction ceremony on Friday, May 8, in Hegg Auditorium at Galesburg High School.

The students, all of whom will enter Galesburg High School in the fall, will receive summer enrichment and academic preparation, participate in community service, and benefit from special skill-building experiences during their high school careers. 

Students who complete the program in high school receive tuition-waiver scholarships toward the completion of associate's and bachelor's degree programs at Carl Sandburg College and Knox College, respectively.

"The value of college degree has never been more important in today's society, but in terms of the value of this program, it's even more over the top," said the featured speaker, Dr. Lori Sundberg, president of Carl Sandburg College. A graduate of Knox College and Carl Sandburg College, Sundberg told the students, "Your success is our number one priority. You've been accepted into a program that the only goal for us is for you to succeed."

Named after the Rev. George Washington Gale, founder of Galesburg and Knox College, the program is a collaborative partnership between Knox College, Carl Sandburg College and Galesburg School District 205. The widely acclaimed program was created to encourage and support higher education aspirations and success in the target population of academically promising first-generation and income-eligible youth within District 205.

"There are more challenges today facing students than ever before," Sundberg said. "In high school, being different doesn't always feel like it's a good thing, but just being yourself is always a right thing... I can tell you that in this program you will feel accepted, and any differences you might feel now, you will find that others will accept you as you are, and you in return will find yourself accepting others the way they are."

Other speakers included three current Gale Scholars -- Galesburg High School student Teresa Ricks, Carl Sandburg College student Saige Washington, and Knox College student Chanda Harrell -- as well as Galesburg School Superintendent Bart Arthur and Gale Scholars Program Director Les Hunter.

The inductees received certificates from Sundberg, Arthur and Knox College President Teresa Amott.

This year's inductees are Fabiola Chavez, Tavian Davis, Kailea Evans, Tavian James, Austin Kidder, Mia Logsdon, Dakota McDorman, Michael Pendleton, Deante Pulley, Demetrius Pulley, Dewon Pulley, Harlee Rammage, Seth Ross, Garrett Sprinkle, and Brianna Yoder.

Top of page, current Gale Scholar and Galesburg High School student Teresa Ricks; above, Gale Scholars Program Director Les Hunter talks to this year's inductees; featured speakers at the induction ceremony Ricks, Sandburg College student Saige Washington and Knox College student Chanda Harrell; group photo of this year's inductees.

• More photos on Flickr from the 2015 George Washington Gale Scholars induction ceremony