Two Saint Martin's students lead a group of Benedictine Scholar candidates on a path on campus

Benedictine Scholars

  1. Why Saint Martin's?
  2. Our Catholic Benedictine tradition
  3. Benedictine Scholars

The Benedictine Scholars Program cultivates exceptional undergraduate student leaders who embody the Benedictine values to inspire and transform Saint Martin’s University through study of the Rule amidst intentional community, exploration of faith, service and academic success.

About the program

Founded in 2012, the Benedictine Scholars program is a group of undergraduate student leaders, whose mission is to promote a deeper understanding of the Benedictine values and heritage that defines our institution. Each year a new cohort is added with 10 incoming first-year students. Serving as ambassadors of the Benedictine values, the scholars are chosen for their commitment to leadership, service and promoting the common good. 

The Benedictine Scholars program stresses the importance of:

  • Community
  • Living a balanced life
  • Hospitality
  • Generosity of Spirit

Hear it from a Saint

"Being a scholar, I would say it’s like having your own little family on campus. These are the first 10 people you meet and you’ll always be there for one another. Being a scholar definitely made the experience at Saint Martin’s a very friendly one." — Gerardo Rodriguez '17, Everett, WA, mathematics

Benedictine Scholars at Pigman's Farm

Cohort activities

Each year, the incoming cohort of scholars chooses a project that embodies the Benedictine values. Past projects have included videos, restoration of the Stations of the Cross on campus, a community art project. Scholars attend retreats each year to foster community and travel to a different Benedictine community as a cohort.

Students in residence halls

Community involvement

Scholars are encouraged to live on and are active members on campus. During their first year, they will live on the Norcia Leadership Floor in Spangler Hall. Incoming students are paired with upper-class mentors in suite-style rooms. Scholars are also student government leaders, orientation leaders, peer mentors and more. They also spend time with members of the monastic community to learn about the Benedictine values. 

Application process

Benedictine Scholars do not need to be Catholic. Our scholars represent a broad spectrum of different faith traditions as well as students who profess no faith tradition. Scholars are brought together by their willingness to engage with the Benedictine values. 

Scholars are able to participate in other activities on campus, including athletics.

Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to retain their scholarship.

There is no application for the Benedictine Scholarship. Candidates for this scholarship are nominated each year by the Office of Admissions.

Candidates are selected based on academic success, as well as demonstrated service and leadership. Applicants will receive an invitation if they are selected as a scholar candidate.

Candidates participate in an interview process, which includes a written component. On-campus interviews are held in March.

Candidates who live out of state or too far away from campus may attend alternate interviews. Please contact your counselor for details.

Interview panelists evaluate candidates based on their leadership skills, level of participation and commitment to positive community engagement.

FAQs

Benedictine Scholars are selected not only for their academic excellence, but also for their commitment to leadership, service, and promoting the common good.

 

No. Benedictine Scholars represent a broad spectrum of faith traditions. This program is not Catholic per se; rather, the Scholars’ presence and leadership on campus helps to foster Benedictine values, which are universal and relevant to people from all faith traditions.

 

Candidates can make arrangements to interview by video conference if they live outside western Washington or have special circumstances that prevent them from interviewing on campus. All efforts are made to ensure that both on-campus and video conference candidates are considered equally in the selection process.

 

Candidates will be notified in April.

Cohorts

Jayse Arcalas (Kapolei High School, Kapolei, HI)

David Cano III (Rainier High School, Rainier, WA)

Heather Hubbard (Tumwater High School, Tumwater, WA)

Faith Linthicum (Shelton High School, Shelton, WA)

Sierra Nees (Mountainside High School, Beaverton, OR) 

Laurin Patterson (Billings Senior High School, Billings, MT)

Lydia Smaciarz (Willapa Valley High School, Raymond, WA)

Ariana Valera-Ruvalcaba (Auburn High School, Auburn, WA)

Lily Villa (Mabton High School, Grandview, WA)

Tatiana Watkins-Snow (West Anchorage High School, Anchorage, AK) 

Anthony Alohi Arecchi (Damien Memorial School, Honolulu, HI)

Marisol Bergstrom (South Kitsap High School, Port Orchard, WA)

Jamari Foster (Federal Way High School, Federal Way, WA)

Lara Jade Reyes Montefalcon (North Thurston High School, Lacey, WA)

Esmeralda Moreno (Tri-Cities Preparatory, Pasco, WA)

Aldrin Fagaragan Rafael (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

Avril Andales Regis (Fa'asao Marist College Preparatory High School, American Samoa)

Hunter Anela Jean Smith (James Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, HI)

Dove Marie Cruz Tupper (James Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, HI)

Trisha Mae Bugal Valenzuela (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

 

Kip Angaiak (Monroe Catholic Junior-Senior High School, AK)

Coton Corrales (Mountain View High School, WA)

Chalise King (Chiawana High School, WA)

Erin Luong (Borah Senior High School, ID)

Jessica McNeil (Kapolei High School, HI)

Erica Moody (Battle Ground High School, WA)

Sarah Niemi (La Salle High School, WA)

Riley Phelps (Yelm High School, WA)

Malia Pinder (North Creek High School, WA)

Mark Wood (Winston Churchill High School, OR)

Francisca Ugochi Anunobi (Forest Ridge School Sacred Heart, Bellevue, WA)

Byron Blas (Father Duenas Memorial High School, Hagåtña, GU)

Tatiana Crichton (Bethel High School, Spanaway, WA)

Max Kendall (Kentridge Senior High School, Renton, WA)

Soukita Keopanapay (Pullman High School, Pullman, WA)

Brooklyn LaPointe (Chemawa Indian School, Porcupine, SD)

Kaiyle Okada (Maui High School, Kailua, HI)

Javier Warrior Ramirez (Bainbridge High School, Bainbridge Island, WA)

Cheyenne Yap (Kamehameha Schools Maui, Haiku, HI)

Jake Yoshida (Maryknoll High School, Honolulu, HI)

 

Dagny Ahrend (Ephrata Senior High School, Ephrata, WA) 

Christopher Carlisle (Rochester High School, Rochester, WA)

Lauren Chung (Sacred Hearts Academy High School, Honolulu, HI)

Hannah Erwin (Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, WA)

Katelynn Gulley (Curtis Senior High School - Tacoma, WA)

Zachary Hansen (Washington Virtual Academy School - Shelton, WA)

Madelaine O’Neil (Woodland High School - Woodland, WA)

Shannen Sakai (Pearl City High School - Pearl City, HI)

Cesar Sandoval (Orting High School - Ortin, WA)

Ian James Yadao (Waipahu High School - Waipahu, HI)

 

 

Beryl Baon (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

Rowan Carabba (Mount Baker Senior High School, Deming, WA)

Jarek Dabrowski (Tumwater High School, Tumwater, WA)

Miguel De La Melena (Union High School, Vancouver, WA)

Marie Dhanens (Timberline High School, Olympia, WA)

Jason Fairhurst (Snohomish Senior High School, Snohomish, WA)

Dakota Hill (Yelm High School, Yelm, WA)

Soleil Lewis (Thomas Jefferson High School, Auburn, WA)

Ashley Taylor (Riverside Poly High School, Riverside, CA)

Francis Yarofalyango (Yap Catholic High School, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia)

 

 

Miriam Bautista-Rodriguez (Royal High School, Royal City, WA)

Luis Camacho (Quincy High School, Quincy, WA)

Keevan Forbes-Kashani (Capital High School, Olympia, WA)

Alesha Garand (Newberg Senior High School, Newberg, OR)

Cor Kruithof III (Woodrow Wilson High School, Tacoma, WA)

Dylon Maertens (Tahoma Senior High School, Maple Valley, WA)

Sheridan Menard (Mountain View High School, Kuna, ID)

Michael Otter-Johnson (Timberline High School, Olympia, WA)

Tracey Porter (Franklin Pierce High School, Tacoma, WA)

Kaitlyn Slade (Waipahu High School, Waipahu, HI)

 

Questions about the program?