Scholars Around the World
Two JKCF Scholars organize a 15-day study tour to Bolivia to explore the country’s political economy, peoples and rural development
Ian Goller
“I tend to set rather high bars for myself to meet, and where I fail to meet them I have had the help and encouragement of a wonderful family, teachers, and advisors. Everything else has just been a natural progression from that.”
- Program: 2009 College Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Fishers, IN
- Hometown: Fishers, IN
- Age: 21
- Four-year College or University: University of Chicago
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Agriculture, Animal Sciences, Archeology, Architecture, Arts / Music / Performance, Astronomy, Aviation, Classics, Education / Academia, Engineering, Environmental Scientist, Government, Languages, Liberal Arts, Literature, Mathematics, Medical Practitioner, Nonprofits, Philosophy, Politics and Diplomacy, Religion, Sciences, Social Science / Anthropology, Writing / Journalism
- Other Interests: Environmental Science, Government, Honor Society, Languages, Liberal Arts, Literature, Mathematics, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Philosophy, Politics and Diplomacy, Public Services, Religion, Sciences, Volunteer Work, Writing / Journalism, Music (plays the guitar, flute and several other instruments), Rugby, “Philosophizing”, and “anything new I happen to come across”
Biography
Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: As a Young Scholar, Ian was able to travel to France in the summer of 2007 through an Indiana University program as part of an Honors French Immersion program. He also spent a month on a service project on Guadeloupe.
Profile: Ian tries to learn something new each waking moment. He has a lust for life that is contagious to those he interacts with. Long ago his junior high school principal called him a true “Renaissance man.” At the time, like most seventh graders, Ian didn’t know what that meant, and why it was a compliment. Since then, he’s come to realize how important it is to take an interest in numerous subjects and have a desire to learn. That his been his life’s mission: learning, and seizing and enjoying the moment.
Inspiration: He is quick to thank his family for their guidance and support, as well as Ben Beasley, his tenth grade English teacher.
Aspiration: Ian said he wants to do “something which does not involve sitting behind a desk.” In college, he hopes to study “anything and everything.”
Making a Difference: Through a program sponsored by Visions Service Adventures, Ian spent part of one summer in a small town on Guadeloupe working on a service project. He helped paint a world map for the local school in the town of Petite-Anse (the school did not have a large map) and tutored the students. He also used his muscles by moving large boulders to build walls for a botanical garden and cleaned the walls of a church. “Nothing else I’ve done can truly compare to the feeling of accomplishment I got out of that month.”
Accolades: Ian was a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist and was honored in separate math contests at Huntington University and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. In addition, he received the Fishers High School Academic Team Leadership Award for leading his school’s Quizbowl team to the Nationals.
Interesting fact: Ian dressed as a pirate at his Senior Homecoming dance, while everyone else was formally dressed.
Other Scholars Like Ian
Linda Siegmann
Graduate Scholar
The University of Tulsa
Keely Rasmussen
College Scholar
Stanford University
Kevin Kim
College Scholar
Northwestern University
Menachem Sahler
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute