2010-2011 Doug and Grace Laughlin Scholarship Winner: Trevor Wood

Trevor Wood, from Columbia, Illinois, will attend Truman State University this Fall, majoring in Business Administration. Trevor has a wide range of interests from business and politics, to economics and current events. He demonstrated both academic excellence and outstanding leadership throughout high school; a solid foundation for a future in business administration.

“I have worked extremely hard to excel in my challenging academic coursework in high school and in the extracurricular and community organizations.”

Trevor was on the Columbia High School Honor Roll from 2008 to 2010. He is also a member of National Honor Society.  In 2010, he became a winner of Gustav-Pentzler Academic/Athletic Award. In the same year, Trevor brought home the Better Business Bureau Scholarship.  Trevor’s community and leadership activities are arguable more impressive than his academic successes.

Earning the Eagle Scout rank, serving as Vice President of the student body, captaining the cross country team, being the youngest member on the Board of Worship at his church: these are only a few of the leadership roles that Trevor took on during high school. And these roles helped shape his character and career choice. 

The secret to Trevor’s leadership qualities? His family values have helped him become a well rounded person.

“With my father being a firefighter and my mother a nurse, I have been raised in a household that places high emphasis on moral values, a strong work ethic and the intrinsic reward of serving others. My parents have not only fostered my learning at home and at school, but have made many sacrifices to ensure that I have had an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities.”

Trevor’s mother was a homemaker and an active volunteer until 2 years ago. Because of this, very limited household income was available to save for Trevor and his brother’s college expenses. This was true despite the fact that his parents are quite frugal and do not spend frivolously on new vehicles, expensive vacations or other luxuries that seem common for many.

“It is my goal to minimize the student and parent loans, in part to avoid an undue burden on my parents with another son going to college in three years. I would also like to reduce the amount of my own student loans, for I know that debt will delay my goal to pursue a graduate degree. This scholarship will be a blessing for me and my family.”

“Following my college education, I hope to enroll in graduate school and eventually become an entrepreneur and start a business.”