It was a Monday, but it was suddenly a happy Monday for Badin High School senior Grace Meehan when she walked into the school’s chapel and saw nearly her entire family standing there.

Also there – Mrs. Jen Waning, the local representative for Marian University in Indianapolis.

It meant good news, as it always does when Waning makes an appearance at Badin. Grace Meehan was being awarded a full tuition scholarship, the St. Mary’s Scholarship, to attend Marian, a Catholic school with some 2,800 undergraduates.

“I’m just so excited,” said Meehan in the aftermath of the surprise ceremony. “I knew that I had applied for the scholarship, but I didn’t know if I had a chance of getting it.”

In fact, according to Waning, some 220 students had applied for the St. Mary’s Scholarship, which was being awarded to only eight students, including Badin’s Meehan.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for Grace,” Waning said. “She is an outstanding recipient.”

Meehan is the first Badin High student to be offered the St. Mary’s scholarship.

“That’s just terrific for Grace,” said Badin guidance counselor Brion Treadway. “To get a major scholarship like that to an excellent school like Marian is a very good day. We have sent a number of students to Marian in recent years, and they have done well and had an enjoyable experience there.”

Meehan is the daughter of Tim and Kim Meehan of Hamilton and a graduate of St. Joseph’s School. She plans to go into elementary or special education.

“Last year, I went to Hamilton Living Water Ministry as my service project,” Meehan said. “I started helping kids a lot and I enjoyed that. That’s something I want to do.”

Noting that her brother Mike, one year younger at Badin, is developmentally handicapped is also a factor for Meehan.

“He motivates me to consider special education,” Grace nodded.

Interestingly, Meehan was scheduled to interview for another significant opportunity at Marian University on Monday afternoon, the San Damiano faith leadership scholarship. She nodded that getting the word on the St. Mary’s Scholarship would certainly calm her nerves for the day.