OXFORD, Miss. – Ten top students from three states have been chosen as
2009-10 Croft Scholars by the Croft Institute for International Studies
at the University of Mississippi.
The scholars each receive $32,000 for four years of undergraduate study
with a major in international studies. The Croft Institute was created
in 1997 through a $60 million gift by the Joseph E. Bancroft Charitable
and Educational Fund and ensures that students are prepared for
leadership in business, public service, education and other fields with
a deeper knowledge of an increasingly interdependent world.
“This year’s crop is an amazingly bright group of students,” said
Director Kees Gispen. “Every year I marvel at the depth of talent and
promise of Croft’s entering cohort. This was another banner year –
students with grades and test scores that rival those at the top
universities in the nation.
“Some of these young Croft scholars already are accomplished
speakers of Spanish or French even before they enter the program.
Others have tested out of required classes, such as calculus and
English, and can go straight into second-year courses at Croft, such as
economics and political science.”
The new Croft Scholars are Michael David Anderson of McComb,
Jacqueline Grace “Jackie” Boyce of Oxford, Isaac Alan Lichlyter of
Alabaster, Ala., Timothy “Sean” Ray of Southaven, Arlissa Nicole Sneed
of Pontotoc, twin sisters Alexandria Marie “Lexi” Thoman and Victoria
Leigh “Tori” Thoman of Chesterfield, Mo., Anastasia Artiom Varenita of
Hazelhurst, Charles Scott Woods of Madison and Sarah Katherine Woods of
Ridgeland.
To complement their international studies major, Croft Scholars
choose a regional concentration and foreign language. Choices for the
new cohort are Spanish for Lexi Thoman, Varenita, Charles Woods and
Sarah Woods; Russian for Lichlyter and Ray; German and Russian for
Boyce; French for Sneed; and German for Anderson. Tori Thoman is
studying in UM’s Flagship Chinese Program, the only college-level
Chinese program in the state. Also, Anderson and Ray have declared
public policy leadership as a second major.
Croft Scholars who are also members of UM’s Sally McDonnell
Barksdale Honors College include Boyce, Ray, Lexi Thoman, Tori Thoman,
Varenita, Charles Scott Woods and Sara Katherine Woods. Anderson,
Lichlyter, and Sneed are considering joining the Honors College next
year.
Anderson graduated from McComb High School, where he ranked
seventh in his class of 174. He was named a Leadership Conference
Scholar and chosen for Who’s Who for Academics and Who’s Who in America
for both English and science. He received the AP English III,
Psychology, Geography and Citizenship awards. An All-American Scholar,
he was granted the Scholastic Achievement Award for State Testing. He
participated in American Legion Boys State, a Congressional Forum with
Lead America and the American Legion Boys Nation as one of two state
senators. At MHS, he lettered in varsity soccer and golf and was chosen
Best Actor in a Character Role in a musical production. His community
service included helping coach Upward Basketball, participating in
cleanup in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, assisting at Camp
Sunshine for the mentally challenged and working with Operation
Christmas Child. He is the son of Henry and Tammy Anderson.
Boyce, a graduate of Oxford High School, ranked ninth in her
class of 188. She spent the 2007-08 school year in Germany as a
participant in the scholarship-based Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
Program. At OHS, she was a member of the band, debate team, Anchor Club
and Delta Epsilon Phi, German national honor society. As a science fair
participant, she won Best of Fair at the regional level, placed third
in the state and served as an alternate at the International Science
Fair. Active in Girl Scouts for more than a decade, she won Bronze,
Silver and Gold awards. A member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, she
served as its co-chair. She participated in the 2007 Oxford-Lafayette
Junior Leadership Program and was named outstanding leader of the
class. Her parents are Priscilla Hamric and Steve Boyce; her
step-parents are Ed Koen and Bonnie Wilson.
Lichlyter graduated from Hope Christian School with a 4.0 GPA.
He participated for five years in the local Speech and Debate Club,
which is affiliated with the National Christian Forensics and
Communications Association. He competed four years at the NCFCA
National Tournament, winning third place in Team Policy Debate and
eighth place in Extemporaneous Speaking. In regional debate
competition, he was twice named both Policy Debate Champion and
Extemporaneous Speaking Champion, and once Original Oratory Champion.
For two years, he was a state finalist in the National Geographic
Society Geography Bee. He played on several teams in tennis league
competition and in singles tennis tournaments. A longtime Boy Scout, he
attained the rank of Eagle Scout and served as senior patrol leader. He
has been a volunteer with the National Weather Service Forecast Office
in Birmingham and with the local Albert L. Scott Library. He is the son
of Phillip and Lisa Lichlyter.
Ray graduated from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and
Science, where he was emissary and Model UN vice president. He was a
member of the school’s Quiz Bowl team that was named the 2009 state
champion. In the United States Institute of Peace National Peace Essay
Contest, he won first in the state and third in the nation, which
earned him a $3,500 scholarship. A member of the National Honor
Society, his other school activities included member of the marching,
symphonic and concert bands, and manager of the soccer team. His club
memberships included those in Science, Foreign Language, Middle Eastern
Studies, Classic Rock Appreciation and Chess. His parents are Todd and
Donna Ray.
Sneed graduated first in her class of 106 at North Pontotoc High
School, where she played on the varsity soccer and softball teams and
was captain of the school’s first cross country team. A member of the
NPHS band and the National Honor Society, she belonged to the Beta
Club, Science Club and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. She
served three years on her school’s Scholar’s Bowl, including two years
when the team won the championship round in competition at Itawamba
Community College. A 10-year piano student, she received superior
rating by the National Federation of Music Clubs for seven consecutive
years. She represented her school at the American Legion Auxiliary
Girls State, where she was elected a top eight official. As a member of
the Pontotoc County Youth Leadership Class, she helped organize a
countywide Clean Sweep for litter collection. She also volunteered with
Habitat for Humanity. She is the daughter of Harold and Denita Sneed.
Lexi Thoman graduated from Lafayette High School in Ballwin,
Mo., ranked No. 40 in her class of 460. She received the Renaissance
Award, which acknowledges one graduate who demonstrates a passion for
scholarship, athletics, leadership and excellence in the arts. She
belonged to the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. A member of
the International Thespian Troupe, she won the Honors Thespian Award.
She belonged to the Lafayette Theater Company and operated the
theatrical lighting for her school’s theater department. A member of
the LHS cross country and varsity track teams, she was a four-year
winner of both the Gold Level Scholar Athlete Award and the Gold Level
Renaissance Award. Her community service included volunteering for the
St. Louis Marathon, Project Backpack, and Project Mittens and Gloves.
Lexi is the daughter of Deborah Lynn Thoman and Philip Edward Thoman.
Tori Thoman also graduated from Lafayette High School, where she
was an Academic Excellence Honors Scholar and Missouri Bright Flight
Scholar. Ranked No. 24 in her class of 460 students, she received the
George Washington Carver Award, United States President’s Award for
Academic Excellence and AP Scholar with Honor Award. A member of the
school’s cross country and track and field teams, she was a four-year
winner of the Gold Level Scholar/Athlete Award, Gold Level
Scholar/Artist Award and Gold Level Renaissance Award. She was a member
of the National Honor Society, Key Club and Lafayette Theater Company.
In community service, she was a volunteer for several projects,
including Crisis Nursery Diaper Drive, St. Louis ScholarShop, Public
Broadcasting Station’s “Arthur in the Park” and Knights of Columbus.
Tori is the daughter of Deborah Lynn Thoman and Philip Edward Thoman.
Varenita was born in Moldova and moved to the United States with
her family when she was 11 years old. She graduated No. 1 in her class
of 40 at Copiah Academy. In MPSEA State Overall Betterment Competition,
she won first place in world history in both 2007 and 2008, and third
place in English I in 2006. In MPSEA District IV Academic Betterment
Competition, she won first place in English and third place in American
History in 2006. She placed third in the 2007 Life Changes Literary
Competition at the McClean Fletcher Center in Jackson. At Copiah
Academy, she won Teacher’s Choice Awards in English, video journalism,
chemistry, history and algebra, and she was a member of her school’s
Quiz Bowl team and chapters of Mu Alpha Theta, Senior Theta and
Envirothon. In 2005, she attended UM’s Trent Lott Leadership Institute
for Rising Ninth Graders. She received a Mississippi Eminent Scholars
Grant and Sam Walton Community Scholarship toward college expenses. In
community service, she helped with Chautauqua Park Christmas
Decoration, Jingle Bell Walk and Flower Beds Project. Her parents are
Natalia Tkachenko and William Lowenkamp Jr.
Charles Woods graduated from St. Andrews Episcopal School. A
member of the National Honor Society, he was named an AP Scholar with
Distinction. He received the Watson Quality Ford Home Team Hero Award
and Scholarship, AP Human Geography Book Award, International Relations
Book Award and James Parham Evans III Prize for AP U.S. History.
Lettering four years in both varsity football and baseball, he was
named All Madison County Team (senior), All District First Team
(junior) and All District Second Team (sophomore, senior) in football;
and All District First Team (senior) in baseball. He served on his
school’s Honor Council and Student Council, and was a member of the
Diversity Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Speech and Debate
Team, and National Forensic League. An Eagle Scout, he logged more than
120 hours of community service in various projects throughout high
school. He also went on a mission trip to Honduras and served as a camp
counselor for Operation Hoopstrings. His parents are Tracy and Scott
Woods.
Sarah Woods graduated from Jackson Academy with a 4.0 GPA. She
received the Speech Award, World History Award and Youth Congress
Senator Award. She was chosen Most Effective Attorney in mock trial
competition for two years. A member of the Cum Laude Society, National
Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, she participated in the National
Forensics Competition and ABC Spanish Testing. She was a member and
officer of the Spanish Club, Outdoor Club, Pre-med Club, Mock Trial and
Forensics. She lettered four years in cross country and one year in
softball. She participated in Girls State and was a City of Ridgeland
Junior Diplomat and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. She is the
daughter of Andy Woods and Kathy Woods.
For more information about the Croft Institute for International Studies, visit
http://www.croft.olemiss.edu/