DAPHNE, Ala. — College tuition costs may be on the rise, but one young woman will see a little relief. Bethany Dankovic, an 18-year-old senior at Daphne High School, has earned the University of Mobile’s $24,000 Presidential Scholarhip due to her academic excellence and personality, according to UM officials.

“Bethany is an academically strong student, active in her church and involved musically,” Neesha Roberts, University of Mobile admissions counselor, said. “She is the kind of all-around student who will do well at the University of Mobile — academically, socially and spiritually.

“We are looking forward to having Bethany as a leader on campus this fall.”

Dankovic jittered with excitement, recalling the day she learned about the honor.

“I was surprised and happy. I need all the money I can get.

“It’ll be easier on my parents.”

The scholarship pays $6,000 a year over eight consecutive semesters so long as the student keeps a full-time status and a 3.25 grade-point average, according to a news release.

The scholarship is awarded based on GPA and high marks on American College Testing, a standardized exam, according to university officials.

Dankovic said she pushes herself in academia and finds satisfaction in her hard work.

“I’m like a perfectionist; I get anxious when I make B’s,” she said. “When I make a bad grade, I get really discouraged really fast.”

Dankovic’s extra curricular activities also aided in the scholarship selection. She participates in marching and symphonic band, National Honor Society and Girls Service Club, and she was the co-captain for varsity Scholar’s Bowl — her favorite.

“Some people like chess or video games; I like answering random trivia questions. I’m kind of weird that way,” she said.

Another aspect of her busy schedule is working at Hollister Co., a retail clothing store in the Eastern Shore Centre in Spanish Fort, where she’s worked for a year and a half.

Her motivation to excel in all areas has come from certain teachers in her life.

“Mr. (André) LaPalme, my English teacher, really inspired me to be a literature person when we read ‘Beowulf’ and this medieval stuff,” she said.

Her favorite works are Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” and Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shalott.”

Dankovic’s freshman biology teacher, Mary Simpson, also made an impression on her.

“She’s like my best friend because she’s fun, she’s outgoing, but she disciplines you when you do something wrong,” she said.

LaPalme and Simpson are mentors and are part of the reason she wants to become a teacher, she said.

But that dream is nothing new, she said.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was 7 years old,” she said. Many of her family members, including her mother, Kathy, are teachers.

Dankovic plans to major in English at the University of Mobile and then get a teaching certificate since the university doesn’t offer a degree in education.

She wants to stay in Alabama because she is “used to the teaching business” here, she said.

“I want to stay here for maybe like four years or so; then if God wills me to go somewhere else, then I will,” she said.