McElroy Awarded Junior Achievement® Scholarships
Pius X Senior Grant McElroy has been awarded the Junior Achievement® (JA) of Lincoln Driven Youth Invitational (DYI) Scholarship sponsored by Nelnet, and JA’s John Ballew Scholarship, each in the amount of $500. McElroy was presented with the first scholarship at the March 25, 2014 DYI “shark tank” competition. McElroy will be recognized for a second award at today’s Junior Achievement® Board of Directors Scholarship Presentation.
McElroy, son of Mark and Beth McElroy of St. Peter Parish, will be attending Nebraska Wesleyan University in the fall, where he plans to study Business or pre-law and play intercollegiate football. McElroy says he was attracted to the university’s football program because of its strong focus on academics. “They are highly ranked among NAIA and other college and university football programs in having academic all-Americans,” he explains.
McElroy, who is currently serving as Senior Class President, played four years of football for the “Thunderbolts”, in addition to three years of basketball and track. During his high school career, McElroy says that he greatly enjoyed business classes with Pius X teacher and JA sponsor, Ryan Psota. “JA really opened my mind to what entrepreneurship is really like,” McElroy says. “There are many steps that go into to having a good business idea. It is a long process and takes many years to develop.”
In addition to his involvement with JA, McElroy credits his athletic coaches for preparing him for college and beyond. “All the coaches I’ve had have really inspired me to work hard,” McElroy reflects. “The most memorable are the football coaches, especially Mr. [Jim] Hansen. Those are the ones I won’t forget.”
Now in its third year, JA’s Driven Youth Invitational is a free program that provides local high school students the knowledge and insight they need to compete and succeed in today’s economy. “Over seven Tuesday evenings, more than 40 students from LPS and Pius X have been mentored by some of Lincoln’s most successful and inspirational entrepreneurs, learning how they turned their passions into careers,” explains Tera Norris, President of the Lincoln chapter of Junior Achievement. “Participating students develop their own business ideas, compose their very own business plans, and present them during the final session.”
This is the 4th year in a row a student or students at Pius X have been awarded JA scholarships. “Grant is a very motivated young man who is not afraid to try new challenges with the goal of enhancing his business knowledge,” Psota says. “Grant went into this program with an open mind and learned a great deal from the entrepreneurs each week, and it really showed in his presentation to the ‘sharks’.”
McElroy looks forward to the future awaiting him as he prepares to graduate from Pius X. “While in college, I’m really interested to see what different aspects there are to business and other academic areas,” he notes. “I may want to own my own business someday.”
As the central Catholic high school in Lincoln, Pius X’s mission is to enrich the mind, heart and soul of each student through a Christ-centered, Catholic environment that provides academic excellence and preparation to achieve a meaningful, faith-filled life. Now in its 58th year and serving more than 1,100 students in grades 9-12, Pius X is guided by Pope St. Pius X’s motto, “Restore all things in Christ”.
