Scholars Directory
Meet all our scholarship recipients - resilient students transforming their lives through education and faith.
2025 New Scholars
Jacques
Jacques transferred to Lutheran South for his junior year after two years at St. Louis's special school for New Americans. He has 3 brothers and his family attends Christ Memorial Lutheran. He played soccer this fall and his favorite course is Theology II. As Youth Leader of the African Youth Ministry at Christ Memorial, Jacques is preparing for his intended career as a Director of Christian Education. He will be attending Concordia, St. Paul next year.
Kiadum
Kiadum has lived in the United States with her 3 siblings her whole life, but her family is originally from Nigeria. Her sister also attends Lutheran South. She attends St. Lucas Lutheran Church and helps with ESL at CFNA. She likes both her English and Spanish courses at South. In the spring she intends to join the track team. She also enjoys watching basketball.
Antonio
Antonio is part of a large family with 8 siblings. Though born in the United States, his family is from Mexico. He and his family attend Our Lady of Guadalupe, where the whole family volunteers at fish fries every Lent. Antonio plays soccer for Lutheran North, following in the footsteps of his older brothers who also played soccer for North. His favorite subject this year is Old Testament.
Paulette
Paulette has three siblings and though born in the United States, her family comes from Liberia. They are members of St. Johns Lutheran Church. She is already very active at Lutheran South, where she is on the cheer team, Student Council, the media team, and manages the girls' basketball team. She likes her Honors English class and business communication. Paulette loves helping people and tutors children with their homework at CFNA.
Billy
Billy has three sisters and a brother. He was born in Uganda before coming to St. Louis nine years ago. He graduated from Grace Chapel and his family attends there. Billy is on the student council at North and was a track star, winning multiple awards in Spring 2023 before having major knee surgery. His favorite subject is math and he is part of Washington University's Summer College Prep program. Billy is interested in a career in the medical field, with a particular interest in veterinary medicine.
2025 Renewed Scholars
Angel
Angel has four siblings including a sister who is a sophomore at South. Her family came from Liberia and now attends St. Lucas Lutheran Church. She graduated from Word of Life several years ago. Angel is on both the field hockey and track teams and also is on the cheer team. Her favorite subjects are psychology and history. She plans to study sonography and is looking at Oregon State and in-state programs. She tutors at the Peace Center and helps with gift wrapping.
Deeya
Deeya has two siblings and was born in Nepal. She and her family attend Nepali Gospel Church. She participated in the faith-based after-school program at EAGLE College Prep, where she met Pastor Tanney and learned about Lutheran South. She is a member of Lancers for Life, plays soccer, and is a member of HOSA. Her favorite subjects are digital journalism and psychology. In addition to tutoring at CFNA, she helps with Special Olympics. She is planning a career in nursing or criminology and is looking at Grand Canyon University or UMSL.
Anjali
Anjali has two siblings and came from Nepal 12 years ago with her family. They are members of Nepali Gospel Church. She participated in the faith-based after-school program at EAGLE College Prep, where she met Pastor Tanney and learned about Lutheran South. She is a member of Lancers for Life, plays flag football, and is part of a volleyball club in the community. Her favorite subject is History. At the Peace Center, she has helped with tutoring and she also supports Special Olympics. She is interested in journalism, teaching, or dental hygiene and is looking at University of the Ozarks and Mizzou.
2025 Graduates
Thelma
Thelma was a CFNA scholarship recipient since third grade at Christ Community Lutheran School. She has three siblings and her older brother graduated from Lutheran South several years ago. Her family originally came from Liberia. She attended Webster Gardens Lutheran Church. She did track and sang in the choir. Her favorite subjects were human evolutionary microbiology and physics. She is now heading to Jefferson College for a pre-radiology program. She says "CFNA scholarships have opened a lot of doors for me to grow and learn. I'll forever be grateful."
Abishek
Abishek was at Lutheran South since he was a freshman. He was born in Nepal and his family attends the Nepali Gospel Church. He played volleyball at South and his favorite subject was math. He was on a mathathletics team in middle school. During his senior year, he volunteered at CFNA, tutoring New American students.
Ephrata
Ephrata has two sisters and comes from a family that came from Ethiopia originally, with stops in Greece and Canada before settling in St. Louis. She attended Lutheran North since freshman year and was very involved. She was an athlete on the swim, track and cross country teams, led the Speech and Debate team, was part of Concentus (North's select chorus), the Green Team, and the Black History Council. She attended Girls State in Missouri in 2024. She volunteered at CFNA helping organize and talk with visitors. She is now attending Washington University in St. Louis.
Enock
Enock has 2 siblings and came to St. Louis from the Congo via Kenya about eight years ago. He and his family are members of Ascension Lutheran Church. His favorite subject was physics and he focused on studying and applying for colleges. He wanted to pursue computer engineering and was accepted by Missouri University of Science and Technology. He volunteered at CFNA during his senior year. He is now studying software development at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
Gentil
Gentil is a recent immigrant from Rwanda who came to Lutheran North for his senior year on the recommendation of staff at CFNA, where his family became involved shortly after arriving in St. Louis. During his senior year, he volunteered regularly at CFNA. He is now going to Baylor University in Texas to study computer engineering.