In the spirit of Choate’s rich history of diversity and multiculturalism, the Gakio-Walton scholars program has helped to bring students from Africa and parts of the U.S. that have been underrepresented at Choate. The program has its root in the Walton scholarship endowed to Choate by Benjamin S. Walton’s ‘92 father. Four years ago, the Walton Family Foundation, directed by Benjamin S. Walton, donated a generous 11.7 million to Choate, establishing the Gakio-Walton Scholars program. Named after Wilson Gakio
The donation, named after Wilson Gakio, a student from Kenya and the good friend and peer of Benjaimin S. Walton, is split into three parts. With 8.2 million of the donation, the brightest and most creative students from Africa and the Middle East are given need-based scholarships to attend Choate. Trying to give representation to all parts of the U.S., 2.8 million is used to give scholarships to students in specific parts of the U.S such as Nevada and Arizona. The rest of the donation, 900,000, is being used to help fund Choate’s curricular and faculty development programs.
With the help of dedicated alumni, Ms.Pashley and Ms.Whitney have traveled to Nairobi, Kenya twice in order to recruit two students, a male and female, in need of the Gakio-Walton scholarship to attend Choate. Their goal, however, is not only to choose two students to give the Gakio-Walton scholarship to, but also to introduce Choate to Africa. Ms. Pashley was recently able to “meet face to face with prospective students, prospective families and school heads to introduce the scholar program, which has made a significant difference in the last two years.” Students who are not in need of financial aid are very encouraged to apply to Choate and other schools in the U.S.
Building Bridges
The mission statement of the Gakio-Walton scholars program explains, “The Gakio-Walton scholar will be a bridge builder between cultures and posses the qualities of character that will flourish and be nurtured in our academic setting.” Potential scholars are required to take SSATs and fill out an application. Aside from good grades, an important factor in deciding on which students should be chosen as Gakio-Walton scholars are their characteristics and demeanor. As stated in the goals for the Gakio-Walton scholars program, “The defining characteristics of a Gakio-Walton Scholar are intellectual curiosity, academic ability, sound character, and an outgoing, friendly demeanor.”
Mrs. Pashley says that a Gakio-Walton scholar should be able to “complete the academic work here, as well as have the curiosity and courage to travel all the way to the United States.” Admissions officers are so selective due to “an effort to find the most appropriate candidates, and to maximize the likelihood of success.”
This year, the Gakio-Walton Scholars program has brought four new students: Martin Mutonga and Thatcher Mweu from Kenya, Marco Walton from Nevada, and Shelby Tulley from Arizona. Students who are selected as scholars are required to attend the Choate’s five-week summer camp in order to facilitate their getting used to Choate and familiarization with the U.S. This year, Mr.Yanelli traveled to Kenya to escort the two students chosen as Gakio-Walton scholars to Choate. In the words of Ms.Pashley, “Choate’s three trips to Kenya within a year’s time have displayed a heartfelt gesture to the people of Africa who are trying to figure out who we are.”
Look at the Future
There is much in store for the future of the Gakio-Walton scholars program; according to Ms.Pashley, there is a plan laid out for the first ten years. The most important aspect of the plan is the extension of the Gakio-Walton scholar program into the Middle East by next year. There are, however, a variety of difficulties with this. The most prevalent challenge being to establish a firm process by which students in the Middle East are recruited. Although no specifics have been released on where exactly in the Middle East recruitment might take place, Mr.Shanahan and Benjamin S. Walton are meeting in Denver, Colorado to decide on some possibilities.
At the same time, part of the plan is to create sustainability in the regions where Gakio-Walton scholars are recruited (Africa and underrepresented parts of the U.S.) so that the recruiting and selecting process becomes almost like second nature. Eventually, the scholarship hopes to extend its reach into more African countries as well as establish a reliable recruiting process in the Middle East. The ultimate goal, however, of the Gakio-Walton Scholars program is to enhance and enrich the cultural diversity of the Choate community.
Mary Pashley and Beth Whitney sit with potential Gakio-Walton Scholars from Africa. PHOTO/Mary Pashley
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