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six students receiving blades scholarship

Six Incoming Students Awarded Joseph P. Blades Scholarship

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Six Taylor-bound students were recently awarded full tuition scholarships through the Joseph P. Blades Scholarship Fund after demonstrating spiritual, academic, and community leadership: Nathan Canada, Taylor O’Neal, Hameth Peng, Sophi Rogers, Maliya Castillo, and Brianna “Bree” Reinoso.

The scholarship’s namesake, Joseph Preston Blades, exemplified the virtues the scholarship intends to honor. A 1918 Taylor University graduate from Barbados, Blades served as a minister and modeled servant-leadership to all on and off campus.

nathan canada profile

Nathan Canada of Brookfield, Illinois, plans to pursue a BFA in Design and study psychology to lead a meaningful career in art therapy. While playing soccer at Timothy Christian High School, he embraced the value of community and is excited to be a part of Taylor’s servant-leader culture.

taylor o'neal profile

Taylor O’Neal of Fort Wayne, Indiana, dreams of becoming an African American writer dedicated to influencing the lives of her readers. She will study English with a Creative Writing concentration and hopes to also get plugged into the vibrant theatre community at Taylor as well.

hameth peng profile

Hameth Peng from Indianapolis, Indiana, loves to play drums and guitar in his church’s worship band. He plans to further enhance his gifts and talents in music through Christian Ministries studies at Taylor.

sophi rogers profile

Sophi Rogers of the Dominican Republic, where her family serves as cross-cultural missionaries, pours into others by teaching sign language. She loves art, which she will study at Taylor, because as Sophi notes, “It is a universal language and a form of worship.”

maliya castillo profile

Maliya Castillo comes from Charleston, South Carolina, but grew up in Queens, New York, where she loved living in a culturally rich place. She plans to study Multimedia Journalism and looks forward to being involved at Taylor in many ways inside and outside of the classroom.

bree reinoso profile

Bree Reinoso is from Fishers, Indiana, and is still investigating what she plans to study at Taylor. She looks forward to being a part of the intentional Christian community she has seen on campus. She grew up in a family that modeled the diversity of the kingdom of God which encouraged her to serve in her church and community.

About Taylor University
For 176 years, Taylor University has combined rigorous academics with the Christian faith and remains the oldest nondenominational school in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). For nearly three decades, Taylor has been ranked a top Midwest College by U.S. News & World Report. The University’s graduation rate is the fourth highest nationally among peer institutions, and ninety-eight percent of Taylor’s graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. With a strong legacy of service and global opportunities, Taylor also ranks sixth nationally for study abroad internships and travel opportunities.