Background

The International Merit Scholarship was founded in July 2004 by Kristyn and Maxim Zalota who worked as volunteer teachers at FGCC for two semesters in 2004.

Maxim and Kristyn were impressed by the students' desire to continue education beyond high school, especially as many of the students and their families were struggling financially. However, they noticed that many students at FGCC did not know how to study independently and showed little initiative in the classroom.

The International Merit Scholarship was begun as a step in changing the academic culture at FGCC. The donors hope that by celebrating the characteristics of hard work, curiosity and self-initiative, these qualities will become ingrained in all FGCC students.

In Fall 2004, Justin Reese and Holger Meinberg established the Science Merit Scholarship for students majoring in science at FGCC.

In the words of Justin Reese, one of the Science Merit Scholarship founders and Biology teacher in Fall 2004:

"We created the International Science Merit Scholarship to encourage interest in science at FGCC. The award is given to one student who demonstrates the best attitude toward learning science. The award is not meant to reward the student with the highest grades, but rather to recognize the student who puts forth the most effort during the course of [his/her] study of science..."