Five incoming freshmen have been selected to be the next class of Bowling Green State University Alumni Laureate Scholars. They are Chris Dyer of Toledo, Robert Furia of West Chester, Tyler Gombash of Delta, Margaret Long of Kenton and Jacob West of Huber Heights.

The scholarship currently covers the cost of any educational expense up to the cost of tuition, is renewable for four years, and includes a $1,200 book award each year. The program allows students to take part in leadership workshops, community engagement activities and meetings with University, community and alumni leaders and volunteers. The program also includes monthly meetings of the group, one-on-one sessions with the program adviser and group service projects.

To be considered, students must be accepted to BGSU as first-year freshmen, have a 3.5 grade point average in high school, an ACT score at or above 27, or a score of 1100 or above on the SAT. Applicants must also complete an essay, document their leadership experience and be recommended for the scholarship.

Chris Dyer
Dyer maintains a 3.8 GPA at St. Francis de Sales High School and plans to major in education. He has participated in student council, campus ministry and the school’s Ambassador Club for four years; played travel hockey, varsity hockey and varsity soccer, and served as a peer tutor. Dyer founded Student Athletes Mentors and has been involved with Kids Unlimited, tutoring inner-city children. The son of Richard ’78 and Jean Dyer (2220 Apsley Blvd.) also traveled to Honduras for a mission trip.

Robert Furia
A senior at Cincinnati Christian High School in Fairfield, Furia carries a 4.27 GPA. The son of Sarah and Robert Furia (7494 Barret Road) has served as class treasurer for the past three years and is president of Mu Alpha Theta. He represented his school at the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership conference and earned the American Citizenship Award in 2006. He is a four-year varsity football and baseball player and has been an active volunteer with school mission trips, as a math tutor and as a student Bible study co-leader.

Tyler Gombash
Gombash maintains a 3.95 GPA at Delta High School and plans to major in biology. He is the son of Eugene and Laurie (Culler) ’84 Gombash (7757 County Road K). He is class president, varsity football captain and a varsity wrestler. He is a member of FFA, where he has served as treasurer and vice president, and also has helped educate youth in conservation. Gombash, a 4-H member, has worked for two summers as a 4-H camp counselor and has helped teach wrestling to children. In 2007, he helped rebuild houses in New Orleans as part of a short-term evangelical mission.

Margaret Long
Long is a Kenton High School senior who maintains a 3.99 GPA and plans to study music education. She has been active in the high school music program as a member and field commander for the marching band; a member of the pep band, concert and symphonic bands, and a vocalist in the chorale. She is class president, secretary of the student senate and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Long has volunteered with Teen Experience, the Neighborhood Opportunity Center and vacation Bible school. She is active in 4-H as a member of the Hardin County Junior Fair Board, awareness team, advisory council, teen council and horse council. She is the daughter of Amy and Harry Long (21345 CR 120).

Jacob West
West plans to major in biology/pre-med and is a senior at Wayne High School, where he has a 3.7 GPA. He is vice president of the senior cabinet and the student council. He is a four-year member of the baseball team and a two-year member of the soccer, football and swim teams. He has helped with fund-raising events for United Rehabilitation Services, the Special Wish Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Leukemia Foundation, and for breast cancer awareness. West helped tutor elementary students in math, reading and English as a Second Language, and he worked with fifth-grade boys on baseball skills. The son of Kathleen and Michael West (6309 Stoney Creek Drive) also served as a mentor for freshman students.