Leadership Scholarship
2009 Winner
A home schooled student whose dream is to be involved in government, is the winner of the 2009 R.C. McQuilkin Scholarship. Tim Caiello, 17, of Lexington, S.C. was awarded the full scholarship to Columbia International University following a weekend of intense competition on the campus of CIU Dec. 3-5.
Caiello, who will major in Humanities, has a passion for Christian apologetics and philosophy. His goal is to become a professor of government at a Christian university, or to 
be involved in law or government. He is the son of Kevin and Holly Caiello, both alumni of CIU. Caiello says he placed his trust in Christ when he was five years old, and serves in various capacities at St. Andrews Evangelical Church in Columbia, S.C.
In its fifth year, the 2009 McQuilkin Scholarship Weekend drew 61 qualified candidates - the largest in the history of the scholarship. The high school seniors came from 15 states and one from the country of Albania. The scholarship, named after the first president of CIU, is presented to a student of high academic ability who best embodies the motto of CIU: To know Him and to make Him known. The weekend is intense because the judges are always watching. Competing students participated in a holiday party, team-building challenges, worship services, a lunch with professors, a CIU undergraduate class, and a number of interviews.
Caiello said studying speech and debate for three years prepared him for the R.C. McQuilkin Scholarship Weekend.
"You learn how to carry yourself professionally and how to appreciate the decorum for any given situation," Caillo said. "But most importantly, you learn how to make statements and give support for them."
When CIU President Bill Jones telephoned Caiello to give him the good news, Caillo was shocked, almost speechless.
"I feel incredibly honored and blessed," Caiello said. "It is humbling to be chosen. I was just shocked because there were so many other great people. I am very grateful!"
Dan Griffin, CIU's director of student financial services, says naming a winner was very difficult. "The judging committee was amazed at the high caliber of participants this year," Griffin said.
