Emory University junior Lara Gemar from the women's swimming & diving team has been awarded the Sonny Carter Scholarship, based on her academic, athletic and community achievements during her three years as an Eagle.
The Sonny Carter Scholarship is presented annually to an Emory College of Arts and Sciences junior who demonstrates a commitment to developing his or her full human potential, and who clearly strives to use his or her intellectual, physical, and moral qualities for the common good.
Applicants are evaluated based on academic performance, involvement and leadership in the community, moral qualities supporting the common good and making physical activity a part of his or her everyday life.
Gemar has been a member of the women's swimming & diving team for the past three seasons, helping the Eagles extend their University Athletic Association championship run to 22 straight as well as the NCAA national championship reign to 10 consecutive seasons. She first qualified for the NCAA national team as a sophomore, earning All-America Honorable Mention acclaim in the 200 Breaststroke. This year, Gemar once again qualified for nationals in the 200 Breaststroke and earned All-America honors in the event. In addition, she placed herself among the top times in Emory history in the 200 Breast, ranking as the ninth fastest individual following her time of 2:18.01 at the Emory February Invitational. Furthermore, Lara has been honored as a 2019 CSCAA Scholar All-American, a 2018 CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention, is a two-time All-UAA finalist in the 200 Breast and will serve as one of the team's captains for the 2020-21 season.
Academically, Gemar owns a 3.81 cumulative grade-point average and is double majoring in Public Policy & Analysis and Political Science. She currently participates as a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, Emory Friends for myLIFE, Kappa Alpha Theta as well as a swim instructor for Eagle Community Swimming and the Special Olympics of Georgia. She has also worked as an undergraduate research fellow with the Emory University Center for Law and Social Science and is a two-time UAA All-Academic Team selection.
The scholarship is named after Emory alumnus Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr. ('69C, '73M), a soccer player, physician, test pilot and astronaut. The merit based scholarship was established by Mrs. Dana Carter ('70C) and Dr. David Short ('70C), along with other friends and family of Sonny Carter.
The scholarship will provide Gemar with partial tuition for one academic year.