Top scholar racks up prestigious national, state, local awards
Megan Strickland
Charlo senior Lindsey Tryon is headed for Montana State University with a top national scholarship
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CHARLO – Charlo High School senior Lindsey Tryon knows that college is likely going to be a bit more trying than her secondary education, but she’s thankful that financing her schooling is going to be one thing she doesn’t have to worry about.
Tryon has received one of the nation’s most coveted scholarships, the Gates Millenium Scholarship, which is awarded to 1,000 top high school seniors from around the nation each year. The scholarship, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pays for all costs associated with an undergraduate degree and some graduate degree programs.
“It says a lot about her and a lot about her family,” Superintendent Thom Peck said.
Tryon said she couldn’t believe it when she received the scholarship.
“My mom practically started bawling,” Tryon said. “I just kind of stared at it in disbelief. It took about a day to comprehend. It’s exciting to know I’ll never have to worry about it. I’ll just have to worry about my schooling.”
The application is in itself a task to navigate.
“It was really, really extensive,” Tryon said. “It was the biggest scholarship I’ve ever applied for. Eight essays of 1,000 words. Luckily my mom is an English teacher so she could help me review things … It was really long, but well worth it.”
Tryon has been a member of volleyball, basketball, track, yearbook, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, and 4-H. Additionally she is class president.
“It’s a juggle,” Tryon said of her time management strategy. She said she believes being involved likely was a big factor in her scholarship success, which included other major financial awards from Montana State University and a statewide 4-H award.
With the cash racking up, Tryon could have had her pick of colleges across the nation, but she chose to apply for just one, with a single major in mind: agriculture.
“I live on a farm with just about every animal you can possibly have,” Tryon said. “Alpacas, a llama, pot bellied pigs, regular pigs, sheep, miniature goat, miniature donkeys, horse, cows, ducks, geese, the works. I really love ag, I help my dad with the farming. He does a lot of the equipment stuff. If something breaks down I’ll help him fix it. I do the pipe changing for him and sometimes help him buck bales. I love the life.”
Tryon doesn’t know exactly what she wants to do with her agriculture degree because she’s cautiously weighing her options, but she hopes whatever it brings that it makes her parents and community proud.
“I couldn’t have done it without my parents. They really helped me to do it,” Tryon said. “(Mom) really helped me finish it, and perfect it. I’ve got to thank her for that, and my dad just for pushing me to do it. He’s like my idol and I want to make him proud.”
