Richmond grads Molly Gard, Esther Etherington receive national scholarships

Zach Piatt
Richmond Palladium-Item

RICHMOND, Ind. — Molly Gard is one of 250, and Esther Etherington is one of 25. Not in Richmond High School, not in Wayne County, not in Indiana. These two Richmond graduates are part of a select few across the nation to earn the scholarships they're using to further their education.

Gard received the Stamps Scholarship, and Etherington received the First Tee Scholarship.

Richmond High School graduate Molly Gard received the Stamps Scholarship and will be attending Purdue University.

According to its website, the Stamps Scholarship was designed in 2006 to provide "extraordinary educational experiences for extraordinary students." Today, it helps "exceptional students become meaningful leaders."

The award covers the full cost of attendance at any of the program's 37 partner schools. Gard plans to use this scholarship to study science at Purdue University, according to a Richmond High School release. She also plans to join Purdue's Honors College.

The Stamps program will also connect Gard with its community that stretches across the United States, the release states. In addition to having her schooling paid for, Gard has access to an enrichment fund of up to $10,000 to use for academic activities like conferences, study abroad experiences and internships.

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At Richmond, Gard was the first chair celloist in the school's orchestra as well as the orchestra council vice president. She was a member of the science and math academic teams, the student council and the Red Devil Mentor Program.

Richmond High School graduate Esther Etherington received the First Tee Scholarship and will be attending Franklin College.

As for Etherington, her First Tee Scholarship is worth up to $20,000, a First Tee release states, and she'll be using it to attend Franklin College to study elementary education and continue her golf career.

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With her scholarship, Etherington will be paired with a mentor throughout college, have access to professional development workshops and get assistance in securing internships and jobs, the release states.

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According to its website, First Tee began in 1997 to make golf more affordable and accessible for kids. As the program introduced the game to children, it also introduced life skills.

Etherington has been involved with First Tee in Richmond for six years and was a member of Richmond High School's varsity girls golf team for four years. Etherington was also a member of Richmond's choir and regularly volunteers at her church.

Zach Piatt reports on sports and education for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.