Sophia Yeayoung Jung is Announced the 2026 Winner of the Dr. Scott H. Smith Award of Excellence Scholarship
The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is proud to announce the 2026 winner of the Dr. Scott H. Smith Award of Excellence Scholarship. The LSO’s Youth and Education Scholarship Committee annually identifies one exceptional graduate for this $500 award.
Congratulations to Sophia Yeayoung Jung. Sophia is a 2026 graduate of Lafayette Christian School and will be attending Mercer University this fall. She plans to study pediatric nursing with current aspiration of becoming a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. In her recommendation, Sophia’s high school science teacher wrote, “Sophia is conscientious, quietly determined, always joyful, never complaining. A well-rounded student, who is musical and athletic, playing varsity soccer and coaching tennis, Sophia has a “servant’s heart,” service her school community through her volunteer work.”
Sophia played for several years with the LaGrange Symphony Youth Orchestra and String Ensemble. She and her family have attended many LSO performances and music has always been a major part of her life. As a high school student, she taught younger students to play violin. In her own words during her application process, Sophia wrote, “playing in the youth orchestra brings me a sense of accomplishment and pride that I could participate in something so beautiful. The LaGrange Symphony Youth Orchestra brings people together through music and I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it.”
The 2026 Committee
The 2026 LSO Youth and Education Award of Excellence Committee consisted of Gerry McGee, Joyce Morgan Young, and Bob Smith. LSO’s 2026 Board President, Brandon Adams, made the presentations to the deserving youth in front of her teachers and peers during an Honor’s Day ceremony at Lafayette Christian School.
More About the Dr. Scott H. Smith Award of Excellence Scholarship
This scholarship is open to any high school graduating senior enrolled in public, private, or home school who has at any time, past or present, participated in one or more of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra’s programs. The application process consists of an application form with transcript and letter of recommendation, a written essay, and personal interview. Criteria evaluated are LaGrange Symphony Youth Orchestra participation, community/school involvement, essay quality, recommendation, and grade point average.
The scholarship award, adopted in 2024, is named in honor of Dr. Scott H. Smith, a retired professor from LaGrange College, who joined the LSO Board of Directors in June 1992 and retired in June 2021. Dr. Smith is the longest serving board member in LSO history with 29 years of active board membership. He provided valued leadership serving in numerous committee roles, various officer positions and as the organizations 11th President. The LSO Board of Directors named this new scholarship The Dr. Scott H. Smith Scholarship to honor this man who spent his life’s work in the education of bright and inquisitive minds and worked tirelessly for many years to help develop and grow the multiple programs offered by the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.
