Fort Valley State University announced the recipients of its inaugural Global Innovators Scholarships, worth up to $42,500 over four years.

This includes $40,000 for tuition, room, board, fees and other academic expenses, in addition to a $2,000 for international study and $500 to pursue a customized passion project, such as research, creative exploration, or entrepreneurship. Included in the inaugural class is Lauren Wartley from Harris High School in Hamilton, Georgia

Lauren Wartley will be an animal science major, and pressure will not be a challenge for her. In fact, her goal is to become a trauma surgeon specializing in disaster medicine.

While at FVSU, she also wants to increase her foreign language expertise to help her communicate with people as she travels the globe performing surgery for people in need. She has always been interested in dissecting and reassembling items, and the medical field appeals to her most.

“I wanted to be the person who could see a problem and uncover and fix it,” Wartley said.

Other members of the inaugural class include:

4Lindsay Corbin from Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia, Georgia

4Neariah Freeman from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia

4Camille Saunders from Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia

4Erica Wearing from Seneca High School in Seneca, South Carolina

Students were selected based on their grade point average, demonstrated leadership, and interviews on campus this past February. The FVSU Global Innovators Scholarship was created to produce inquisitive, culturally adaptable students who create change. It helps students understand methods for conducting meaningful and thoughtful research into an idea or opportunity, move ideas to meaningful action, and create new approaches to problem-solving. At the same time, students develop a greater understanding of globalism by living, learning and working with people in other countries.

“The star students in our inaugural class of Global Innovators Scholars are the young people who will soon disrupt the way the world approaches problems and lead our transformation into the society of the future,” said Paul Jones, Ph.D., FVSU president. “We are fully committed to providing the access to technology, expert faculty, work experiences and global cultures these students will need to take their place as the creative leaders to whom humanity will look for solutions to our most complex challenges.”