Turany gets full academic ride for start to his future
Cornell senior Elijah Turany, son of Steve and Teresa Turany, received a full academic scholarship to UW-Stout, a financial relief for his family. The doors open to Turany are something he credits to the Cornell School District, with the courses available to him as a youth. Photo by Kathy Goltz Photography
By Ginna Young
It’s a lucky teen to get a full ride scholarship to play sports at a university of higher learning, but a full academic scholarship is almost unheard of in a small town like Cornell. In spite of that, after putting in the hard work needed to succeed, senior Elijah Turany is one of those few awarded a full ride.
This spring, Turany received word that he had received a Rath Foundation Academic full scholarship for a Wisconsin resident, to attend UW-Stout. Turany sent one application with three different essays in it and all the information to Stout, and they, in turn, sent his information to other avenues for scholarships.
“And they said, yeah, you got a full ride,” said Turany, who estimates the amount will be about $70,000. “It’s big. Life-changing amount of money.”
The estimates are based on a full load of 15 credits, per semester, with a standard double room and a meal plan. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years, if Turany maintains a GPA of 3.5 and remains in good standing in an engineering program with the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management, and applies to the foundation each year.
Turany’s field of interest has been computer and electrical engineering for some time, after his first academic love was mathematics, but he is not sure yet what his career will be.
“It’s a very broad degree,” said Turany. “I can use it for pretty much anything with computers.”
Staying at the top of the Honor Roll throughout school, Turany excelled at math, which was recognized by superintendent Dr. Paul Schley, who made sure Turany was placed in a computer programming course in the eighth grade.
“I really loved that class,” said Turany. “It was fun.” As a junior, Turany also was in a software development course through the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC). He’s also taken transfer academy courses this year, instead of senior classes.
“That’s what kind of pushed me in this direction,” he said. With Turany jumping up a level in math at every turn, he kept skipping up to higher math classes, which prepared him for what he needed later on.
“I don’t know where I would have been without those early classes,” said Turany, who gives credit to the school for his success.
As he awaits high school graduation and the beginning of his future, Turany hopes his efforts and success will inspire younger students to work hard, and realize that they, too, can enjoy academic rewards.
“They can really do anything,” said Turany. “If I can get a full ride, why can’t some other kid?”
(To the right) Cornell senior Elijah Turany, son of Steve and Teresa Turany, received a full academic scholarship to UW-Stout, a financial relief for his family. The doors open to Turany are something he credits to the Cornell School District, with the courses available to him as a youth.
