The 2026 Sonlight Scholarship Winners

Sonlight is dedicated to partnering with homeschool households to domesticate a lifelong love of studying of their kids, from these first curious preschool questions all the best way to writing a highschool analysis paper and past. This partnership doesn’t finish when college students graduate from highschool. We additionally wish to be there for households as their kids pursue their God-given callings and desires.

That’s why we created the Sonlight Faculty Scholarship. For the reason that program started, we have awarded almost $2 million in scholarships to Sonlight graduates pursuing their God-given callings. These awards acknowledge college students for his or her educational achievements in addition to their presents in service, ministry, management, and the humanities.

At present, we’re honored to introduce our 2026 scholarship recipients. Study all 9 college students, awarded scholarships starting from $4,000 to $20,000.

Meet Our $20,000 Winner

Christian R. (Ian), of Beavercreek, OH

The youngest of eight kids, all homeschooled from an early age with Sonlight, Ian loves that homeschooling with Sonlight has given him a agency basis for excited about and getting into the world as a lightweight of Christ. Wherever God might place him, Ian wishes to be a gradual rock that factors others to the true Rock of Christ.

His favourite a part of homeschooling with Sonlight has been studying the various books and supplies Sonlight assigns, not solely as a result of he loves studying them, but in addition as a result of they bring about the histories, philosophies, cultures, and accomplishments of individuals and locations all around the world, proper to his favourite recliner.

He has additionally loved homeschooling as a result of it has given him the pliability to pursue many extracurricular actions, similar to co-owning a lawncare firm established in 2010 that serves over 25 prospects. Along with co-owning a enterprise, Ian additionally:

• performs the French horn for a youth orchestra,
• loves sports activities, as he’s on the Varsity soccer and observe workforce, and enjoys disc golf and working,
• enjoys entertaining folks with unicycle and juggling routines.

Homeschooling has additionally given him the pliability to journey the world together with his household, happening 3 multi-week journeys and visiting 5 international locations.

Ian loves utilizing the presents God has given him to bless and encourage others and make folks smile. He’s acknowledged as:   

• A sought-after handyman who can usually be discovered within the workshop constructing or fixing issues for somebody.
• A really skilled prepare dinner, as he cooks for big teams to assist his household, whereas they host round 45 school college students on many Sundays.
• A inventive who loves making magnificence out of unusual issues, whether or not that be plating and garnishing his meals, selecting flowers from his backyard, adorning his desk, or creating artwork and woodworking initiatives.

Ian is worked up to attend Cedarville College, the place he hopes to review industrial and progressive design and to take part within the honors program. He believes that that is one of the simplest ways to make use of the presents God has given him to glorify God and bless these round him.

Meet This 12 months’s $10,000 Winners

Every of the next college students will obtain a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per 12 months).

Daniel B., of Poy Sippi, WI

Having grown up as a missionary child in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Daniel has not solely been uncovered to a number of languages and cultures, but in addition is aware of quite a bit about flexibility and methods to share his religion. Talking 4 languages and having already visited 20 international locations, he feels at house virtually anyplace on the planet. Along with his flexibility and love for journey and journey, he:

• performs a number of devices,
• writes and data his personal music,
• performs hockey as a goalie,
• takes images whereas touring, and
• enjoys absolutely anything to do with the outside.

He additionally actively joins his household of their mission work:

• main music for church,
• translating,
• serving to at youth and youngsters’s camps,
• educating Sunday faculty, and
• sharing the Gospel with mates.

Now, throughout his senior 12 months of highschool, Daniel works at a neighborhood recreation heart run by Christian Norwegians, the place he beforehand volunteered for 200+ hours. This has enabled him to get his personal work visa, permitting him to remain in Mongolia and proceed serving to his mother and father till commencement. All through his complete life as a missionary child, Daniel has come to see that the world over, “mission work stays the identical: a loving group of household and mates reaching out and sharing Christ’s love by on a regular basis interactions and connections with all they meet.”

Along with his household’s robust religion and deal with Jesus, his homeschooling curriculum—together with 12 cores of Sonlight—has helped create a agency basis for his religion by encouraging him to ask important questions and never be afraid to share with others what he is aware of and believes.

Due to this, he has determined to observe God’s calling to change into a pastor and can begin that journey by finding out Biblical languages and theology at Concordia College in Saint Paul Minnesota. “I’m able to observe wherever [Jesus] leads,” says Daniel, “and I’d not be stunned in any respect if that’s proper again to Central Asia.”

Brinley G., of Poy Oceanside, CA

Whereas Brinley’s mother as soon as claimed she would by no means homeschool, God had different plans. Brinley graduated in 2025 as a lifelong homeschooler who used Sonlight for 11 years. Because of Sonlight, she has been an avid reader from a younger age.

Whereas she will be able to’t select a favourite e-book from Sonlight, she’s cherished studying missionary tales, historic fiction, and basic novels. She additionally enjoys historical past, writing, touring, and having deep conversations along with her household across the dinner desk.

Brinley turned a Christian at a younger age, and all through her life, she has been deeply concerned in her native church:

• serving in kids’s ministry,
• enjoying piano for the highschool worship workforce, and
• founding and co-leading a number of Bible research amongst her friends.

For a very long time, she didn’t know whether or not to go to school, however after a lot consideration, she felt God main her into the realm of Christian counseling. She is now a freshman in her second semester at California Baptist College, pursuing a double main in psychology and Christian behavioral science to change into a wedding and household therapist. Her hope is to make use of her giftings and values to bridge gaps in psychological well being care and to supply Christ-centered counseling that brings hope and restoration to those that are hurting.

She loves school and enjoys studying in classroom settings, and he or she is deeply grateful for the robust Christian group surrounding her. She is concerned in a number of on-campus Bible research that target each being disciples and making disciples. She additionally has the unbelievable alternative to go on a three-week mission journey this summer time by her college. Her workforce will deal with ministering to the Deaf, one of the crucial unreached folks teams on the planet, and he or she is studying ASL and is an energetic member of her faculty’s ASL membership to lift consciousness of Deaf tradition.

Brinley is grateful for the methods homeschooling by Sonlight geared up her to thrive in school with a robust biblical basis and a love of studying, and he or she seems ahead to seeing how God will proceed to make use of her within the years to come back.

Bethany R., of Almond, NY

Bethany has been homeschooled since pre-school and has grown up listening to her mother learn Sonlight books aloud earlier than mattress, a reminiscence that sparked a lifelong love of literature!

The pliability of homeschooling has allowed her to put money into quite a lot of extracurricular actions like voice-over, ballet, and theatre. Many of those she has participated in by Household Life Ministries, a Christian radio and outreach ministry dedicated to spreading the message of hope present in Jesus Christ.

She has participated in a lot of their musicals and worship live shows, in addition to being a member of their authentic Saturday-morning youngsters’ radio present. Being concerned on this ministry has allowed her to develop her abilities whereas sharing the gospel by the performing arts, a chance she is extremely blessed to have.

One other of Bethany’s favourite pastimes is music. She began enjoying the piano at age six and has continued ever since. She has carried out in lots of recitals and competitions, in addition to accompanying choral teams from native excessive faculties, faculties, and at church. She has served on her church’s worship workforce since she was 10 years outdated, and continues to play on lead piano, guitar, voice, or wherever they want her!

When she just isn’t working towards or performing, yow will discover Bethany:

• baking,
• crocheting,
• studying, or
• styling her hair.

Regardless of her many abilities, Bethany has discovered that her true ardour is to assist others. Whereas she has been blessed with a pointy thoughts and a need to realize excellence in her work, she not often feels extra glad than when making others really feel assured and valued. It’s her need to discover a school and profession that may equip her to make use of this ardour, alongside along with her many abilities, to share the character and love of Christ with others.

At present, she plans to attend Grove Metropolis Faculty, majoring in enterprise administration with a minor in musical theatre. Nonetheless, her coronary heart stays open for regardless of the Lord has deliberate.

Meet This 12 months’s $4,000 Winners

Every of the next college students will obtain $4,000 ($1,000 per 12 months).

Trevor R., of Beavercreek, OH

Trevor grew up in a navy household with 5 siblings and has used Sonlight since he was eight. He has a love of historical past and devours his favourite literature with enthusiasm. A few of his favourite Sonlight novels embrace Hero of the Empire, A Evening Divided, and The Case for Christ.

Trevor is an avid Boy Scout, incomes his Eagle Scout with a challenge that honored fallen heroes on the Los Angeles Nationwide Cemetery. Throughout his time within the Boy Scouts, Trevor backpacked at Philmont, the place he served as Crew Lead for a bunch of boys mountain climbing 70 miles over 12 days.

He enjoys collaborating in a number of Bible research, together with main one on-line with mates in California. Trevor excels in a number of sports activities, together with:

• baseball,
• final frisbee,
• observe, and
• soccer.

His favourite sport is soccer, and he was privileged to begin as a winger on a neighborhood Christian varsity soccer workforce.

Trevor has an awesome humorousness and likes to play complicated board video games. He has discovered quite a lot of totally different abilities whereas serving to repair a large number of upkeep points at his church. This included:  

• filling a sinkhole (in 105-degree temperatures!),
• repairing a water effectively, and
• repaving the parking zone with gravel.

He additionally labored as an intern for his uncle, the place he welded and discovered stone veneer work whereas making industrial-grade indicators.

After taking a graphic design class together with his co-op, Trevor realized that God had given him a expertise for designing. Trevor marvels on the creativity with which God has designed the universe and sees his personal inclination in direction of the gorgeous as a mirrored image of God.

He plans to attend Cedarville College this fall to review industrial design. Trevor is worked up about how industrial design combines artwork and sweetness with serving to folks resolve issues; the 2 issues that he enjoys most. He’s excited to develop in his religion by the Christian group, the Bible minor, and college who will hone his present abilities, educate him new ones, and achieve this whereas recognizing that his most inventive endeavors enlarge the final word Creator.

Luis M., of São Paulo, Brazil

Luis is grateful for all that homeschooling has supplied for his life. The numerous years of homeschooling formed his love for studying and writing, permitting him to discover concepts deeply and assume critically. Most significantly, it gave him a thirst for studying that continues to information his educational and private progress.

As a result of he was born and raised in a Christian household, he was at all times concerned with church actions. As his understanding of the significance of a wholesome group grew, he started to take part extra passionately by becoming a member of the worship workforce and utilizing music to serve others.

He additionally assisted the A/V workforce earlier than the service, studying accountability and teamwork. Sonlight’s faith-driven curriculum additionally inspired him to participate in two mission journeys in Brazil, the place he lives. Serving to the group, Athletes in Motion, attain out to the poor in spirit deepened his relationship with Christ and strengthened his need to serve with humility.

The adaptability of the curriculum has allowed him to expertise many new actions and to develop totally different abilities. He participated in two performs together with his homeschooling group, which created many lasting reminiscences and boosted his confidence in public talking. His love for sports activities was additionally cherished, with practices and tournaments that taught self-discipline, perseverance, and management.

All these alternatives led him to Mackenzie Presbyterian College. There, he began an economics course, hoping to satisfy God’s goal for his life. He’s excited to fulfill new folks, develop intellectually and spiritually, and prays that he could make a distinction wherever God locations him.

Geneva S., of Dayton, OH  

Genevea has spent her childhood within the Center East and has been utilizing Sonlight since 1st grade. She is extraordinarily grateful to have had that privilege even abroad. The three issues which were constant all through all of the transitions in her life embrace:

Sonlight’s treasure trove of books has instilled in Geneva a love for not solely studying, however studying usually. She loves diving deeper into her favourite faculty topics, together with calculus, physics, chemistry, and economics. She can be always engaged in an assortment of hobbies. She has spent hours cultivating abilities in baking, crocheting, enjoying music, programming, and swimming.

Geneva performs piano and violin and has been blessed with many alternatives to make use of these presents to serve fellow missionary households within the Center East, her church, a nursing house, and in her own residence. She additionally performs in a youth orchestra and is extraordinarily grateful for the expertise and progress she has cultivated in her years there.

With seven youthful siblings, Geneva has been blessed with plenty of firsthand expertise caring for younger kids. After shifting again to America just a few years in the past, Geneva returned to the Center East for 3 months to function a nanny for a missionary household who had lately moved there. She cared for the three little boys in the course of the day whereas the mother and father have been in language faculty.

As she seems ahead to the years forward, she is inspired by God’s righteousness and care. Lord keen, she’s going to examine engineering at Cedarville College within the fall.

In some unspecified time in the future, she hopes to get married and have kids of her personal to homeschool. A technique she hopes to serve, as she strikes ahead, is by ministering to worldwide folks, whether or not in different international locations or right here, in America. As a TCK, she is particularly inspired by interacting with folks from different international locations and studying about their cultures. She is aware of the Lord has given her this need, and he or she seems ahead to the alternatives He’ll set earlier than her.

Elizabeth C., of Sunbury, OH

Having begun her homeschooling journey at age 4, Elizabeth has been homeschooled with Sonlight ever since—a Sonlighter for each grade stage! All through her years of college, she has gained a deep love for studying, studying, and creativity. She loves spending time along with her household and mates and being exterior in nature.

One in all Elizabeth’s favourite issues is being part of her church group. She has at all times had a coronary heart for worship, and he or she likes to:

• play the piano,
• sing, and
• lead worship repeatedly at her house church.

She additionally enjoys being a frontrunner on the center faculty youth group, and he or she serves for Sunday morning youngsters’ lessons and as a childcare chief in the course of the week.

Elizabeth has a ardour for determine skating and skates competitively all year long. She has medaled in a number of totally different competitions and likes to be on the ice at any time when she will be able to. She additionally loves studying about totally different cultures and had the chance to serve on a short-term missions journey to Brazil throughout her senior 12 months. This expertise sparked an pleasure for touring and grew her love for God, others, and God’s stunning creation.

This previous 12 months, Elizabeth has held an intern place at her church, working in worship, youth, youngsters, and administrative areas. She loves the ministry discipline and is worked up to see the place God would possibly lead her sooner or later.

She additionally has a ardour for writing. She is at present writing a kids’s e-book for youths at her church, and you may usually discover her deeply engrossed in journaling or writing a brand new story. She plans to pursue an expert writing diploma at Cedarville College and appears ahead to seeing how God will use it in her future. Above all, she seems ahead to persevering with to hunt the Lord in every part she does.

Abigail B. of Hollandale, MN

Abigail is extraordinarily grateful and blessed to have been homeschooled with Sonlight curriculum from center faculty to commencement. Because of the Christ-centered materials, she has matured and grown not solely academically but in addition spiritually since she began homeschooling. Together with that, she has discovered many beneficial life abilities that she’s going to carry along with her into school and past.

This fall, Abby seems ahead to attending Bethany Lutheran Faculty. As a result of her favourite Sonlight course is Superior Biology, she needs to main in train science and someday change into an athletic coach. The extra she learns concerning the human physique, the extra she realizes what a tremendous and complex God she serves. She will be able to’t wait to share her ardour and information with others. She is so excited and grateful to see the place God leads her on this subsequent a part of her life.

Abby is immensely grateful to Sonlight for the influence it has had on her life. Moreover teachers, if Sonlight has taught her one factor, it’s to face up for her religion. Due to this, Sonlight has helped set up a agency, rooted basis in her religion, which continues to develop day-after-day. She is going to attempt to be the sunshine of Jesus, unfold His like to everybody she meets, and endeavor in direction of her objectives and God’s plans for her life.

Congratulations to Our Winners & All 2026 Graduates

As we applaud these excellent 2026 Sonlight Scholarship winners, we additionally wish to prolong our heartfelt congratulations to all of this 12 months’s graduates and college students. Whether or not your scholar is ending highschool, center faculty, or elementary faculty, every stage of studying and progress is price celebrating.

Our prayer for our scholarship winners and all Sonlighters is that God will information them as they uncover their presents and passions and that they’re inspired to stroll confidently within the functions He has for them. Could they proceed to develop in knowledge, information, and character, and will they discover pleasure in studying and charm in each season.

To our Sonlight mother and father and households, we’re honored to stroll alongside you. Thanks for selecting Sonlight as your associate in your homeschool journey and for answering the decision to homeschool. We pray that you simply acknowledge how your dedication, sacrifice, and love form the subsequent era and have gotten your scholar to this milestone.

Are you homeschooling a future scholarship winner? Study extra about our scholarship necessities and methods to apply within the coming years.