Prestigious John Christopher Hartwick Scholarships Awarded to Six Outstanding Students, Honoring Tradition of Excellence and Leadership

During the College’s Honors Convocation on May 1, six outstanding students were awarded the prestigious John Christopher Hartwick (JCH) Scholarships, the highest distinction Hartwick can confer. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1967 upon the recommendation of then-president, Frederick M. Binder, these scholarships recognize rising seniors nominated by faculty for their exceptional academic achievement, leadership and character.

Each of the JCH scholars listed below receives a substantial tuition grant and an honored place among those who stand for the very best of Hartwick College.

Bailey A Ernst

Hometown: Delhi, N.Y.
Major(s): Philosophy, Literature & Art
Achievements: Vice President’s Purchase Prize winner in 2024.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: I am most looking forward to working on my thesis projects. I know I will create work that I can be very proud of here, but I am also looking forward to creating new memories at Hartwick while I still can.
What does this type of recognition mean to you: This is the highest honor I have ever received and the most affirming experience of my life. Receiving this recognition has made me feel infinitely more confident in my ability to go out into the world and accomplish my dreams.

Bangely Garcia

Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Major: Nursing
Achievements: Dean’s list, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Nurse Corps Scholarship recipient and John Christopher Hartwick Scholar
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: I am looking forward to capstone, presenting my research thesis and making more memories.
What does this type of recognition mean to you: This type of recognition is very rewarding. It proves to me that all the hard work I have put into my studies has been worth it. It also feels good to know that my peers, professors and faculty see my resilience and ability to persevere through any hardships I have faced.

Brynn Illies

Hometown: Watertown, Minn.
Majors: English and education with a minor in political science.
Achievements: John Christopher Hartwick Award, Dean’s lists from fall 2021 through spring 2024.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: I am looking forward to making music with my friends, living right next to Table Rock Trail and taking classes that I’ve been interested in for years!
What does this type of recognition mean to you: I am very honored to be able to represent what Hartwick can do for students if they take advantage of the opportunities they have access to.

Jack Magee

Hometown: Pittsford, N.Y.
Major(s): Nursing
Achievements: Dean’s list for fall 2022, spring 2023 and fall 2023; the Robert Harlem Sr. Newman Foundation Award.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: Hopefully, being able to finish my classes and start my nursing capstone, as well as become more involved in on-campus activities. Also, finalizing and presenting my research project.
What does this type of recognition mean to you: I was honored to receive this award, especially considering the achievements of all the other students who were nominated and selected alongside me. For me, I see the award as a recognition of what I and others have done, a reminder of those who have helped me along the way and motivation to continue working.

Arianna (Anna) Thompson

Hometown: Akwesasne, N.Y.
Major(s): Inclusive Elementary Ed
Achievements: Co-chair of Indigenous DEI committee, JCH Scholar, Cobell Scholar, student athlete.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: Being able to reflect back on my college years and see the difference I left on Hartwick College.
What does this type of recognition mean to you: It really means a lot, I came to Hartwick with a purpose of bringing cultural awareness and acknowledgement of students who come to campus with very diverse backgrounds. And with the recognition of this award, I feel as though I was able to do just that.

Ella Van Engen

Hometown: Minnetonka, Minn.
Majors: Double major in art and psychology with a double minor in philosophy and art history.
Achievements: Making the Dean’s list every semester from fall ’21 to fall ’23, winning Best in Show in the 2023 Juried Student Exhibition and now being named a JCH Scholar.
What are you looking forward to most in your senior year at Hartwick: I am most looking forward to working on the art projects I have planned for my creative honors challenge and my thesis in art during my senior year. I am also excited to have one last year with my friends on Oyaron Hill and I will be making as many memories as possible in the time I have left here.
What does this type of recognition mean to you: The recognition of being awarded the JCH Scholarship is honestly unreal. I went to a large high school in my hometown, where I remained fairly unremarkable throughout my four years there. When I came to Hartwick, I vowed to make that change and involve myself with life on this campus as much as possible. Now, I will be able to look back on my college experience fondly, knowing I made an impact on this campus and that it was enough to land me in a small group of some of Hartwick’s best students.

The JCH scholarships are the highest distinction the College can confer. Rising seniors are nominated by the faculty of their major departments on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and character. Students nominated to compete for the JCH scholarship are named Faculty Scholars. From among the Faculty Scholars, six are selected by the Scholarship Awards Committee to receive the JCH scholarships.

Beginning in 1997, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the scholarship, each JCH Scholar is also awarded a medallion, which is to be worn at commencement and other appropriate academic occasions. The JCH medallion is funded by the members of one legacy family beginning with Joyce R. Smith ’58 and Rev. Russell D. Smith ’59.

The names of this year’s recipients will join those of the 299 previous winners on a plaque located in the Stevens-German Library foyer. In addition, each JCH scholar receives a substantial tuition grant made possible through generosity of many donors over the years.

To help continue this and other legacies at Hartwick College, please participate in the Together, We Soar campaign. To learn more, visit hartwick.edu/togetherwesoar.