By Sue Moore
A love of learning was a factor for Schoolcraft senior Reilly Puhalski as he received a scholarship to Holy Cross College in South Bend, Ind. He also received a merit award scholarship from the school; together they will help to defray 80 percent of the tuition when he starts next fall.
To earn them, he went through a half day of group and individual interviews with the college provost, development director and dean of students. The two awards are the Trustee Scholarship, the college’s highest merit award, and the Blessed Basil Moreau Award, one of Holy Cross’ prestigious signature scholarships. It recognizes students who have demonstrated a love of learning and active inquiry.
Puhalski carries at 4.0 GPA and is a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, Freshmen Academy as an upper classman mentor and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also dual-enrolled at KVCC, where he has earned over 30 college credits. He has played four years of football, basketball and golf. His senior seasons in football and basketball were cut short due to an injury in the Saugatuck football game. He also injured his ACL in the Constantine football game. He participates in a St. Martin of Tours youth group. Reilly plans to major in civil engineering. Holy Cross has a partnership with the University of Notre Dame for students interested in the field.
He chose Holy Cross because of its close relationship to Notre Dame, he said. Holy Cross is part of a Tri-Campus Experience with the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College. A student at Holy Cross College can take full advantage of academic and social resources at the two neighboring institutions.
His parents are Gina and Scott Puhalski. His mother teaches 5th grade in Schoolcraft schools.