2023 NCHE Scholarship Winners!

Fall 2023, by Evelyn Bickley

Since 1998, NCHE has awarded scholarships to deserving North Carolina homeschooled high school seniors. In that time, we have been blessed with support and donations from homeschool families and organizations and have been able to award more than $180,000 (after the 2023 awards). This year, the judges selected five amazing students.

The 2023 recipient of the NCHE Academic Scholarship is Luke Ertzberger, son of Jeff and Heather Ertzberger of Wilmington. He scored 35 out of a possible 36 points on the ACT, is an avid tennis player, and has been active in his church and volunteer activities. After graduating from Regent University in Virginia with a degree in computer science, Luke has aspirations to build his own IT company.

The 2023 Ernie Hodges Scholar Athlete Award goes to Davidson Good, son of Ash and Gina Good of Wilmington. While serving as captain and cadet commander in Civil Air Patrol during high school, Davidson earned his associate in science degree from Cape Fear Community College. His athletic career includes four years in four of the NCHE Southeastern Cardinals sports: soccer (captain, NCHE All-Conference, and All Tourney), tennis (#2 seed for four years), golf (founder of the team and captain), and swimming (silver medalist in the 4×100 freestyle relay). He was accepted at Duke Pratt School of Engineering, UNC Honors Carolina, and the U.S. Air Force Academy among others. He plans to major in engineering and ethics before commissioning as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

The NCHE Community Service Award this year is going to “Andi” Bradsher, daughter of David and Amy Bradsher of Roxboro, NC. Andi’s community service has been clear and focused on her future goal of becoming a historian. She has been a workshop leader and docent at Patrick Henry’s home in Virginia for more than six years, has researched spies of the American Revolution and then taught a class on that to a local 4-H chapter, and has served as president of The Time Travelers Club, a group chartered with the NC Museum of History. She will study public history at Juniata College in Pennsylvania.

Adriana Ryder, daughter of Jeremy and Katrina Ryder of Waxhaw, is the recipient of the 2023 NCHE Arts Scholarship. An accomplished visual artist, Addie has won recognition for her talent from numerous local, state, and national organizations. She also creates commissioned works based on her clients’ needs and requests. She plans to major in illustration at Belmont University in Nashville where she hopes to participate in their study abroad program to Italy.

The Apologia Missions and Ministry Scholarship goes to Andrew Witter, son of Franklin and Crystal Witter of Wilson. Drew is an accomplished pianist who plans to major in psychology and minor in music at Montreat College in their honors program. He has been active on the youth worship team at his church for six years, has participated in eight mission trips to Honduras, and has been involved in leading a twelve-step program for teens who are in need of hope and healing in Jesus. In the future, Drew hopes to serve in positions that inspire others to worship God with music and to counsel others through the challenges of life.

Congratulations to these award winners and to all the 2023 homeschool graduates and their parents!