GFWAR is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Educational Foundation scholarship. Ryan Alferink, Nathanael Nakamura, and Jordan Purselley each received $2,500 in funds to go toward their educational pursuits.
“The number of applications received by the Foundation grew 44-percent from last year, so it was not an easy task to narrow the list down to these three exceptional recipients,” said Mary Margaret Davis, Educational Foundation Board President. “We are proud to be able to support Ryan, Nathanael, and Jordan as they embark on their bright futures.”
Valedictorian of his class at Frontier STEM Academy in Mansfield, Ryan Alferink is eager to make an impact on the world around him. Alferink was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Commended Scholar, and received the Frontier STEM Academy Rising Star Award. He was also a founding member of his school’s award-winning University Interscholastic League Current Events team and a member of the student body government. Outside of school, Alferink serves as a soccer referee for the Mansfield Soccer Association and the North Texas Soccer Association, where he managed games for players of all ages, including adults. Alferink will be attending the University of Missouri with plans to study atmospheric science and political science with a goal of going into defense science and public policy.
As a student at Burleson’s Centennial High School, Nathanael Nakamura blazed his own trail. He founded the school’s Model United Nations, which involved research, collaborating with other students, and fundraising. He also founded the local chapter of the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program and won multiple awards at its Four Way Speech Contest. As he honed his craft, he remained a dedicated student and athlete, earning the AP Scholar with Honors award and spots on the Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Outside of school, Nakamura gained hands-on experiences with both the Fort Worth and Burleson City Councils. Nakamura plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to study business and is excited to immerse himself in student life.
As a student-athlete, Jordan Purselley has been able to accomplish a strong balance of academic and athletic pursuits during her time at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth. She has been recognized for her academic achievements as a member of the National Honors Society, and she was also an active member of her school’s volleyball and golf teams, where her leadership qualities, exceptional skills, and collaborative spirit helped her achieve success. Outside of school she is known for her passion for community service, whether it’s organizing community clean-up events or volunteering at local shelters, as well as her love of children as exhibited through years of babysitting. Purselley is excited to be attending the University of Arkansas in the fall where she will study business finance.
The GFWAR Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 to assist worthwhile student applicants in the greater Fort Worth area. Since it began awarding scholarships in 2020, it has helped 19 students with their educational pursuits. The scholarship program is supported by GFWAR members who make donations at events throughout the year.
Applications for the 2025 Educational Foundation Scholarship will open in early 2025. For more information, please visit the Educational Foundation webpage.
