Dreams Funded

Four exceptional students are starting their college journeys at Lenoir-Rhyne University with a rare gift: a full-tuition presidential scholarship that will cover their education costs for the next four years, offer automatic admission into the Fritz Honors College and empower them to pursue their dreams without financial barriers.

Recipients of the 2024-25 scholarship — Case Anderson, Keowen (Keo) Arguello, Elizabeth (Liz) Graham and Cameron Rogers — were all recognized for their exceptional academic achievement, intellectual and professional curiosity, work and service and leadership. 

According to the Office of Admission, of the 60 percent of incoming fall 2024 undergraduate students who were eligible to interview and apply for the presidential scholarship during the annual Scholarship Day held in early February 2024, three percent received it. 

“We're looking at students as a whole — students who have perseverance and a desire to have academic engagement, who want to have academic conversations, who want to grow their theoretical and philosophical understanding of the world, put it into application, and then help spread that word to others,” shared Leah Beth Hubbard, DSL, assistant vice president for admission. “These students represent both the history of Lenoir-Rhyne andwhere it is going, while growing their abstract understanding of the world and using that understanding to improve their communities.” 

To be eligible to apply for the presidential scholarship, students typically have a 3.0 GPA or higher, are involved in their school and community, have completed service hours and have demonstrated a compelling vision for their future. Each of this year’s final recipients was the unanimous choice of a 12-member faculty interviewing team. 

“One of the defining features of our presidential scholarship recipients is their desire to create community for themselves and others while helping fellow students engage in respectful and much-needed discussion and debate on important topics. This scholarship is thus enabling these students to help create the honors college, the university and the society we all need,” said Jeff Vahlbusch, Ph.D., dean of the Fritz Honors College. “By joining and becoming integral parts of the Fritz Honors College, Case, Liz, Cameron and Keo will have opportunities to lead and grow as a team. They will be leaders on campus and help the Fritz Honors College and the university as a whole improve and thrive.”

MEET THE INAUGURAL COHORT 

Case Anderson ’28 
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Major: Medical Studies 

“Lenoir-Rhyne has always been a place where I've felt welcome to express my true self. While other institutions mention or briefly touch on the subject of diversity, LR effectively makes inclusion the centerpiece of its philosophy. LR doesn't just value my work, LR values who I am,” said Anderson. “I'm fully able to focus on helping my student peers thrive.” 

Keo Arguello ’28
Hometown: Boone, North Carolina 
Major: Pre-Medical Studies & Psychology

“I love the community, town of Hickory and the soccer program here. As the school year starts, I am most excited about meeting new people, getting into interesting classes and playing soccer on the men’s team,” Arguello shared. 

Liz Graham ’28 
Hometown: Hendersonville, North Carolina
Major: Human Services, Criminal Justice minor

“I had prayed continuously about choosing the best school that would help me to achieve my life goals. Growing up, my mother, who is an alumna, talked about her time at LR and the amazing faculty here. So, I had a feeling that I would end up here, and receiving this scholarship was a confirmation for me to attend LR,” shared Graham. 

Cameron Rogers ’28
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Major: Undecided

"LR is a great campus with phenomenal faculty and student resources,” said Rogers. “I am most excited to be on campus and experience the clubs, events and classes of the semester while playing soccer at the collegiate level.”

As the fall semester is underway, Vahlbusch is hopeful for these students’ success in the Fritz Honors College and for the future of the next cohort of presidential scholarship recipients, which will be adding five students in the 2025-26 academic year. 

“As we add presidential scholars each academic year, these students are going to be an amazing force for dynamic change within the Fritz Honors College, at Lenoir-Rhyne and beyond.”