Cape High junior named Carson Scholar

Cape High junior Josephine Ingerski can add Carson Scholar to her growing list of accomplishments.

School officials encouraged her to apply for the scholarship, which awarded her $1,000 toward her college of choice. Josephine said she has not yet decided where she will attend, but she is considering majoring in business or engineering.

The scholarship competition is open to students in grades four through 11. Only one student per school can apply, and scholars must have a minimum GPA of 3.75. Scholarships are awarded solely on academic achievement and humanitarian qualities, without regard to financial need, ethnicity, creed or religion.

This year, Josephine helped establish the Cape High chapter of Operation Smile, which provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, and organized an Easter egg fundraiser that netted more than $1,000 for the organization. Josephine said Operation Smile is particularly important to her because her younger sister was born with a cleft palate. 

Josephine also assembled 27 Easter baskets for children staying at a local hotel that housed families experiencing homelessness over spring break, and made and donated more than 100 masks to the Sussex Consortium and other organizations.

A National Honor Society member, Josephine helps coach a travel soccer team, and she also plays soccer for Cape High and Delaware Union.

Josephine said part of the scholarship application consisted of an essay in which she was asked to write what lessons she would tell her younger self and how they would impact her life.

“Live in the moment and do things you’re passionate about,” Josephine said. “That’s why I chose organizations that are close to me and help others, why I play the sport I love, and why I help others play the sport they love.”