Illinois Teen Wins Prestigious Cardinal Newman Society Scholarship, Chooses University of Mary and Its Faithful Catholic Mission
Tess White receives $20,000 scholarship for her commitment to Catholic education and will begin tuition-free nursing studies at Mary in Fall 2025
BISMARCK, ND — Tess White, an 18-year-old homeschool graduate from Spring Grove, Illinois, has been named the winner of the Cardinal Newman Society’s ninth annual essay Scholarship Contest, earning a total of $20,000 toward her education.
White, who will begin her studies in the University of Mary’s nationally recognized Nursing Academy in fall 2025, stood out from applicants across the country for her joyful zeal for faith, learning, and service — and for her bold and creative essay describing college as a kind of “training plan for heaven.”
“The idea just clicked,” White said. “To succeed in life — the race we’re all running — you need the right kind of preparation. That’s what Catholic colleges like the University of Mary offer. I’m beyond honored and grateful to have won, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
A Journey of Faith, Family, and One Beautiful Campus Visit
White first discovered the University of Mary through the Cardinal Newman Guide — the very publication that promotes Catholic colleges most faithful to the teachings of the Church. With a devout Catholic upbringing, she was already discerning a university that would nurture her soul as much as her mind.
What began as a brief summary on the Cardinal Newman Society’s website quickly became a doorway to something much bigger — a place that felt like both a calling and a home.
“When I visited the University of Mary, I immediately loved it,” White recalled. “The bluffs were stunning. The community was joyful and welcoming. The nursing program was very strong. And Bismarck — to my surprise — even had sushi and everything I’d need.”
White said the decision to leave Illinois for North Dakota felt surprisingly natural once she visited campus. “The trip sealed the deal,” she said.
She especially appreciated the peacefulness of the environment, the opportunity to study in person after a lifetime of homeschooling, and the rare chance to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in under three years — tuition-free — through Mary’s innovative Nursing Academy.
“I was all in,” she said. “Even before the scholarship news, I was already planning to attend. This program lets me start my career sooner, with less debt, and with faith woven into my education.”
“Faith Isn’t Just Part of Life — It Is Life”
As much as the top-tier nursing program drew White to Mary, it was the school’s deeply rooted Catholic identity that confirmed her choice.
“During my SOAR (Student Orientation Advising and Registration) visit, I saw the chapel in the freshman girls’ dorm and was blown away,” she said. “Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Wednesday morning community worship — I realized faith wasn’t just part of life at Mary. It is life.”
She said she looks forward to a campus life where the sacraments are accessible and the integration of Catholic values is embedded in every field, including health care.
White’s excitement about her spiritual and academic formation is matched only by her enthusiasm for mission trips, the Nursing Academy’s all-expense-paid pilgrimage to Europe, and yes — spotting her first real North Dakota tumbleweed.
“I’ve always wanted to see one,” she laughed.
Future Nurse. Future Teacher?
Though she once doubted she had “nurse material,” White credits a friend’s encouragement and her mom’s example — a nurse herself — with sparking her passion. A certified nursing assistant course during high school helped her see she was capable. Now, she’s dreaming big.
“I want to be compassionate and capable — especially in neonatal or mother-baby units,” she said. “But long-term, I could see myself becoming a nursing instructor.”
The University of Mary’s holistic formation and support for ambitious goals, she said, gives her confidence that both paths — clinical and educational — are open to her.
“Say the Surrender Novena — and Don’t Worry”
White’s advice to other high school students deciding where to go to college is both practical and prayerful.
“Apply for scholarships. Don’t panic. And say the Surrender Novena,” she said. “I prayed it and was able to let go of the stress. God really does place you where He wants you.”
White’s story, and her winning essay, reflect the mission of both the Cardinal Newman Society and the University of Mary — to form students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually for service to the Church and the world.
“Tess represents everything we hope for in a University of Mary student,” said University of Mary President Monsignor James Shea. “She’s faithful, joyful, intellectually curious, and eager to place herself in the service of Truth.”
White will arrive in Bismarck this month (August 2025), joining more than 3,800 students from around the country and the world. She plans to bring her volleyball skills, love for board games, appetite for adventure, and — maybe — even a new appreciation for prairie winters.
“I’ve been skiing before,” she said, “but I’m ready to ski a lot more now!”
—UMARY—
Anyone who wishes to learn more about the University of Mary can do so at www.umary.edu or by contacting an admissions representative at enroll@umary.edu, or by calling (701) 355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US.
About the University of Mary: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. A private, co-educational Catholic institution, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.
A Christian, Catholic, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Mary offers nearly 60 bachelor’s, 18 master’s, and five doctoral programs—in Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. The 20-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), and the USA College Clay Target League. With more than 3,800 students, Mary has locations in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Rome, Italy, as well as vibrant online offerings.