Senior Grace Fleckenstein won the school’s largest monetary award, the Richard M.  Murdoch scholarship worth over $49,000. The scholarship is open to all seniors planning to attend college based on the following criteria: moral integrity, intellectual ability, extracurricular activities, financial need, and personality. The teachers at Norwin vote on the criteria for the school’s largest scholarship and the winner must receive a majority of the faculty vote.

The scholarship comes from the estate of Richard W. Murdoch who was a 1933 Norwin graduate. During his time at Norwin, he was a very active member in the community being a part of the football team, orchestra, and band. The prestigious scholarship was made a part of his will before his passing. The first scholarship was awarded in 2017 and has been awarded every year since then.

How does it feel to receive such a prestigious scholarship?

“There are no number of words to fully describe the feeling of earning the Murdoch scholarship. I was immediately thrown into a river of emotions. At first, I was shocked and couldn’t believe my dedication to academics paid off,” Fleckenstein said. “When I found out that I won the scholarship, I was immediately incredibly grateful knowing that the administrators honored me and recognized the hard work I had put forward.”

Where do you intend to go to college and major in what?

“I am not certain of which college I am going to attend in the fall—as I am still waiting for a couple more decisions to come out,” Fleckenstein said. “As of right now, my top schools are William & Mary, Chatham, and Mercyhurst.”

What kinds of clubs and activities do you participate in outside of the classroom?

“Outside of school, I participate in a variety of clubs and activities—both to further my resume and to have fun when I am not studying. This year, I am the President of the Knight Readers Club, Co-President of the Knight Krier Newspaper, Secretary of the Spanish Club, and Co-Secretary of Envirothon. I am also heavily involved in FBLA, History Club, Chess Club, Interact Club, Mock Trial, Business Honors Society, National Honors Society, International Foods Club, and the Global Scholars program,” Fleckenstein said. “On my own time, I work at Panera Bread as a Team Lead and I work in the library of the high school as a library aide. I also love to read and play the piano in my spare time.”

What are your plans after graduation and how has your award influenced this?

“After graduation, I would love to double major in environmental science and political science, pursuing a degree in environmental law in the future. While I do not know exactly what I want to do in the future—law, politics, English, and environmental studies all excite me—I know that I want to have a job with a purpose,” Fleckenstein said. “The Murdoch scholarship will help me by alleviating financial strain and debts along the way, while also encouraging me to keep going no matter what challenges I face in the future.”

What is the most important thing high school taught you?

“Work hard and don’t give up. Hard work never leads to immediate results, in fact, it often leads to failure along the way. However, over time, I have found that my hard work throughout the years has allowed me to build the skills I need to face bigger problems in the future,” Fleckenstein said. “Additionally, I think it is so important to recognize the hard work of those around you. My mom always told me that everyone has their own thing that they are dealing with on their own, but a small compliment or appreciation of someone’s diligent work can truly go a long way.”

Who has been the most influential person in your academic life? Why?

“While it is hard to pick one influential person in my life, it would have to be my dad. He truly has a passion for his work and teaching. My dad has constantly inspired me to push through the hardest moments of my life, even through the cold drive on the way to school in his old car,” Fleckenstein said. “Over the years, he has taught me to take pride in my education—because it is truly a privilege to have such a well-rounded educational experience.”

What piece of advice would you like to give to upcoming seniors?

“Don’t lose yourself in the stressful process of trying to maintain your GPA senior year and applying to colleges/scholarships. I’ve found that the most important thing is to make sure to have fun in your last year of high school,” Fleckenstein said. “Go to that meeting after school, join that club despite none of your friends being in it, and don’t be afraid to talk to someone new at the lunch table. High school is for trying new things. If you work hard enough, everything will genuinely work out in the end.”