J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship
Do you consider yourself a top scholar with leadership potential?
The J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship program is a prestigious, nationally competitive award that seeks high-achieving student scholars like you, with a proven track record of academic excellence and leadership from around the world.
This scholarship covers your expenses for four years at Stetson University if you demonstrate not only academic brilliance but also exceptional personal leadership. To be an Edmunds Scholar, you must exhibit strong character and integrity, along with the potential to become an outstanding leader. Intellectual excellence alone isn't enough for selection - your leadership qualities are key.
As an Edmunds Laureate, you'll be chosen for your commitment to education, intellectual curiosity, global and community engagement, and your ability to lead, coach, and mentor others. Successful candidates are actively involved in co-curricular activities, athletics or fitness, and demonstrate discipline, integrity, character, strong communication skills, creativity, and the potential to be a well-rounded leader and contributor to the Stetson University community.
J. Ollie Edmunds was associated with Stetson University for 60 years, from 1921 when he enrolled as an undergraduate student until the day he retired as chancellor. He served Stetson for more than 50 years in the capacities of trustee, president and chancellor. As a student, he worked his way through Stetson and remained active in campus organizations. He was president of his sophomore and senior classes, president of the campus YMCA, a member of the debate team, Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, Glee Club and the Torch and Scroll honorary society. He often took leading roles in campus plays at Stover Theatre, including Shakespearean productions. He was editor of the yearbook and business manager of the student newspaper. He received a bachelor's degree in 1925, a master's degree in 1927 and a law degree in 1928, all from Stetson University. In 1943, his alma mater presented him with the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws.
Dr. Edmunds was elected to Stetson University's Board of Trustees in 1934, helped organize Stetson's National Alumni Association and served three terms as its president. He was a judge in Duval County in Jacksonville. In 1947, he left his probate law practice to become Stetson University's fourth president. His 19-year tenure as president rejuvenated the university. He hired new faculty, raised academic standards, enlarged the campus from 33 to 80 acres, raised $18.4 million and built 16 new buildings. A national leader in higher education, he served as president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Beloved by faculty and students, President Edmunds was highly respected on campus, in the state and across the country.
The J. Ollie Edmunds Distinguished Scholarship Program at Stetson University seeks students who demonstrate a balance of the following qualities:
Superior intellect and academic achievement, as measured by academic record and standardized testing.
- A high school GPA of 3.7 or above
Outstanding leadership potential as measured by leadership roles in high school or the community.
- This may include leadership roles in academic, athletic, religious, scientific, military, social, civic, or service organizations in high school or the community
- Stetson seeks students with proven leadership potential who may be future Stetson student body presidents, as well as members of Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa
Discipline and physical wellness gained by participation in athletics or fitness activities.
- Although some applicants have actively participated in varsity sports, this is not required. Applicants who participate in aerobics, dance, or other fitness programs that create physical wellness meet this characteristic
Active participation in campus and community activities and personal achievement in co-curricular activities.
- Stetson seeks creative and imaginative students
Applying for the Scholarship Program
To access the J. Ollie Edmunds Scholarship Program application, you must first apply to Stetson University and then an option to apply for the program will appear within your Hatter Portal.
All documents should be received by the Office of Admissions by December 1.
Current J. Ollie Edmunds Scholars
Lance Duran
Major: Communication and Media Studies
Minor: Education
Hometown: Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
High school: Burgettstown High School
Campus Involvement
- Honors Program
- Men's Rowing
Ezekiel Boldman
Major: Music Education
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Illinois
High school: Crystal Lake South High School
Campus Involvement
- Honors Program
- Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team Manager
Bruin Webster
Major: International Business, Sales, and Finance
Concentration: Investments
Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
High School: Baylor School
Campus Involvement
- Men’s Rowing
- Honors Program
Maura Reilly
Major: Marketing
Minor: Sports Business
Hometown: Sayville, New York
High school: Sayville High School
Campus Involvement
- Honors Program
- National Sales Challenge, Sales Team Competitor
- Sports Business Association (SBA)
- Marketing Club
- Club Soccer, Operations Officer
- Club Flag Football, Treasurer/Operations Officer
- Club Surf, Member
NATALIE MCCOY
Hometown: Winter Park, Florida
High School: Circle Christian School
Major: English
Minors: Creative Writing, Music and Philosophy
Campus Involvement
- Stetson University, Musician for Hatter Saturday
- Honors Program; Student, Independent Study with Yohann Ripert, Ph.D.
- Stetson University English Department; Member of Sigma Tau Delta, Teaching Apprentice, Study Abroad Student for 2026 DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon, Portugal, Presenter at 2026 Early Modern Manuscripts and Digital Humanities Conference, Presenter at 2026 NASSR/NAVSA Conference in Pasadena, California
- Stetson University Philosophy Department, Member of Phi Sigma Tau
- Writing Center; Peer Tutor, Embedded Peer Tutor for Honors First-Year Seminars, Presenter at 2026 NCPTW in Boise, Idaho
- Student Media Publication Board, Staff Representative
- Touchstone Literary and Arts Journal; Executive Editor, Published Poet and Songwriter
- The Reporter, Staff Writer
- Stetson University School of Music; Stetson Chorale and Candlelight Performances, Student Recitals, Cabarets
Community Involvement
- CJNR Productions, LLC; Co-founder, Managing Member, Independent Contractor (Singer-songwriter, Recording Artist/Musician, Performer; music released on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other major music streaming platforms)
- 2025 Panama City Songwriters Festival, Performer
- 2025 DeLand Original Music Festival, Performer
- Lifeway’s CentriKid and FUGE Camps, Worship Leader
- City Awakening Church, Worship Leader and Songwriter
- Client Relations Intern, Wilson McCoy P.A.
- Orange Students reThink Group Inc, Devotional Writer on the Bible App
- Local Novelist, Beta Reader
Awards and Honors
- 2026 SURE Grant Recipient
- 2026 Academy of American Poets Holly M. Kimball Poetry Prize and Publication
- 2026 Honors Renaissance Award
- 2026 FAPA Student Literary Excellence Award
- 2026 Hatter Network Writer of the Year and Most Valuable Member Award
- 2025 Hatter Network Future Pulitzer Prize Winner
- 2025 National Association of Teachers of Singing, Top Fifteen in the Nation, Commercial Music
- 2025 Southeastern Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing; Second Place Winner Commercial Music, Third Place Winner Musical Theatre, Third Place Winner Classical
Sara Ward
Major: Communication and Media Studies
Minors: Journalism and Society; Human Resource Management
Campus Involvement
- Honors Program
- FOCUS Lead Coordinator
- Lambda Pi Eta - President (Communication Association Honor Society)
Community Involvement
- Z88.3 Intern
- Editorial Fellow – Spectrum News 13
- Journey Church Production Team Volunteer
Awards and Honors
- 2025 recipient of the Josephine Field Davidson Award
- Student Press Law Center Inaugural Student Press Freedom Award
- News For You By You: The West Volusia Beacon Inaugural Journalism Competition; 3rd Place College Division
- Hatter Network Writer of the Year 2023-2024
Temiloluwa Adediji
Major: English and Political Science
Minors: Africana Studies
Professional Track: Pre-Law
Campus Involvement
- Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity)
- Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society)
- Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honors Society)
- Black Law Students Association (Co-President)
- Mock Trial Team, Assistant Coach and Captain
- Honors Program
- Research Apprentice for Department Chair of Africana Studies
Community Involvement
- Volusia County Boys and Girls Club Mentor
- Legal Internships at Kuehne Davis Law, P.A. In Miami and Landis, Graham, and French in DeLand
Awards and Honors
- Volusia County Boys and Girls Club Mentor
- 2026 Recipient of the Montgomery Award for Excellence in English
- 2026 Outstanding Junior Award in English
- 2026 Recipient of the Patrick L. Smith United States Model Senate Outstanding Senator Award
- 2026 Recipient of the Africana Studies Community Service Award
- American Mock Trial Association All-American Attorney (#1 in the US)