Cathedral Scholars

We each have God-given abilities that need to be nurtured and developed, and education is one of the most powerful ways that we can thrive. The Cathedral Scholars program aims to provide financial, vocational, communal, and spiritual support to members of the Cathedral of St. Philip's community who seek to further their educational goals. The Cathedral's community is far-reaching and includes members of the Cathedral parish, Cathedral staff and their immediate family members, and the larger Cathedral community, including its many parochial entities.

DONATE TO THE CATHEDRAL SCHOLARS FUND

What does it mean to be a Cathedral Scholar?

Financial Support: We are accepting requests up to $5,000 per year for tuition, books, required equipment/supplies, and other expenses at an accredited college, university, or trade school, undergraduate or graduate studies. Awards will be paid directly to the designated academic institution. Requests outside this scope may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Vocational, Communal, and Spiritual Support: A supportive community is integral to education success.

Each scholar will have an assigned committee liaison who will be the scholar’s primary contact throughout their educational experience. In addition to providing support and prayers for the scholar, this liaison can connect the scholar with Cathedral parishioners who may serve as vocational resources.
Each summer, the current scholars will gather for an in-person networking event with scholar alumni, the Cathedral Scholars Committee, and supporters of the program.
Scholars are prayed for regularly in the Prayers of the People at the Cathedral.

Application Process

Timeline: Scholarships are awarded annually on a need basis. Applications are accepted year-round, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Annual Funding Beginning with:	Application Deadline:
Summer Semester/Quarter	February 28
Fall Semester/Quarter	April 10
Winter Quarter or Spring Semester/Quarter	September 30

Criteria: All applications will be considered, with preference given to those with direct Cathedral affiliation Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply based on the following criteria:
- Financial need: Combined annual gross income of applicant or the applicant’s parents less than $75,000
- Student character: integrity, responsibility, and kindness
- Academic performance: Include grade point average and rigor of courses
- Extracurricular activities: school, church, community activities and after-school/summer employment
Application: Please note, the following are required to apply or reapply:
- New Student Applicants:
  - Completed new applicants form (see link below)
  - Cover letter composed by the applicant including 250-500 word personal statement (Tell us who you are!)
  - Current school transcript
  - A head shot photo of the applicant
  - One letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s character

nEW sTUDENT aPPLICANTS - Click Here to Apply

Returning Student Applicants:
- Completed returning applicants form (see link below)
- Short letter (addressed to program donors) reporting on your most recent year
- A copy of your school’s financial aid letter for the upcoming year
- Current School Transcript

Returning Student Applicants - Click Here to Apply

Meet the 2024-2025 Cathedral Scholars

We celebrate the accomplishments and the promise of these students, and we hope you will support them with your prayers. We also hope you will take advantage of next year’s annual summer barbecue to meet these students in person. [Note, upon the request of students who desire confidentiality, some names may not be listed.]

Achol Atem

Achol is an immigrant from South Sudan who is currently attending Furman University as a sophomore. She plans to complete a double major in Computer Science and German, with the goal of working as a software engineer after graduation. She loves meeting new people from different backgrounds, is an avid soccer fan, and enjoys playing the ukulele.

Edith Baños

Edith is a freshman at Kennesaw State University. She loves playing softball and is passionate about singing. Her goal is to serve others, either as an EMT or a nurse.

Jelise Bertrand

Jelise is a freshman at Xavier University of Louisiana. She plans to study political science and get into a pre-law-school track. She is also interested in studying psychology.

Brianna Burke

Brianna is a freshman at the University of Georgia, where she is pursuing a major in marketing at the Terry college of Business. She has also been active with the Foundation for Hospital Art, where she works with others to paint colorful, vibrant canvases that are then donated to children's hospitals/pediatric units in 195 countries

Caitlyn Burke

Caitlyn is a freshman at Kennesaw State University

Ernest Charles, Jr.

‍Ernest is a junior at Barry University, with plans to study oceanography. He enjoys music and film and intends to combine his interests with marine biology to increase awareness of our aquatic ecosystem.

Natalya Cobb

Natalya is a sophomore at Howard University with a passion for helping others. She plans to study finance and hopes for a career as a financial advisor and attorney. In her free time, she loves to choreograph dances and attend dance workshops, reading, and hanging out with family and friends

Juliana Contreras

Juliana is a junior and a first-generation college student at the University of Virginia. Juliana hopes to major in speech communication disorders as her first step toward becoming a speech therapist.

Courtney Craft

Courtney is a sophomore at the University of Georgia and has been very involved in sports. Her goal is to achieve a master’s degree in communication and have a career as a political news anchor.

Carolina Diaz

As a junior at Villanova University, Carolina is attending the Villanova Business School and majoring in Marketing. Carolina is a first-generation high school graduate who looks forward to being a first-gen college graduate.

Lindsay Dukes

Lindsay is a junior at Mercer University who has a love for children and plans to obtain a B.S. Ed. degree in Elementary Education/Special Education – the Holistic Child, with a minor in Spanish.

Maria Marquez-Gatica

Maria is a freshman at Georgia State University. She is pursuing a career in dental hygiene. A member of the Cathedral of St. Philip, she attends services in Mikell chapel, where she has served as an acolyte.

Christopher Hayes

A cathedral scholar as an undergraduate at Georgia State University, from which he recently graduated, Christopher is a second-year law student at Fordham University School of Law. He hopes to have a career in public service in his hometown of Atlanta.

Kiera Jones

Kiera is a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Science Pre-Professional Studies, and plans to go to Physical Therapy school after graduation. She is very interested in sports and hopes to become a Sports Physical Therapist in the future, working for the NFL or NBA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and binge-watching movies.

Maggie Long

Maggie is a junior at Mercer University, studying marketing and working towards attending physician assistant school. Maggie has been a member of the Cathedral of St. Philip for most of her life. She spends her time working two part-time jobs while attending school.

Julia Mansour

Julia is a freshman at the University of South Carolina, where she will be pursuing a B.S. Sport and Entertainment Management degree. She has been active in various sports, from softball to golf, and plans to pursue a career in sports management.

Meilyn Motino

Meilyn is a freshman at Georgia State University, where she plans to study psychology. Her long-range plan is to get her Master’s degree in psychology to become a clinical psychologist.

Mosiah Roberts

Mosiah is a sophomore at Georgia State University. He plans to study Blockchain Development, which is a new era of database development.

Emmierose Scates

An active member and usher at St. Philip’s, Emmierose worked as a phlebotomist following her graduation from the University of Georgia in 2022. She is now enrolled at the University of North Georgia to pursue a nursing degree.

Carter Sessions

Carter Sessions is a junior at Pace University in New York City, where she is studying Theatre. This past year, she wrote, directed, designed, and acted in a forty minute piece called “HiberNation,” which offers a commentary on the American dream and how it manifests in people’s lives.

Eve Brittany Treo-Arriaga

Eve is a freshman at Georgia State University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and may possibly continue her studies to become a medical doctor.

Katrin White

Katrin is a sophomore at the College of the Holy Cross. She has a love for learning, with a passion for physical therapy, and aspires to one day own a physical therapy clinic where she can “merge physical and mental rehabilitation into one, thereby providing holistic reformation of the entire person.”