INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Administration Building, Suite 136 355 N. Lansing Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2896 317-274-7711 Fax: 317-274-5457

For Immediate Release April 18, 2001 For More Information Contact: Diane Brown, (317) 274-7711 habrown@iupui.edu

FIRST MASARACHIA SCHOLARS SELECTED; SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

INDIANAPOLIS - The School of Liberal Arts recently announced the first three participants in the Sam Masarachia Scholars Program, a full-tuition scholarship fund for students pursuing careers in labor, senior citizen and community advocacy.

Incoming IUPUI freshmen Evelyn Hovee of Indianapolis, Tim Moriarty of Carmel, and Bridget Tucker, also of Indianapolis, will receive scholarships covering tuition and fees, renewable for four years. As Masarachia Scholars, the students will complete internships during their junior and senior years in addition to the required coursework in their selected majors.

"I applied for the Masarachia scholarship because of the ties it has with the community," Tucker said. "Both the scholarship's goal and my goal is to better our community."

Tucker attends Franklin Central High School where she has been active in drama club, yearbook, senior political convention and Students Against Drunk Driving. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate in sociology. She is the daughter of Kathleen Willitzer of Indianapolis.

A substantial gift from Sam Masarachia, a retired United Steelworkers of America representative whose formal education ended after the ninth grade, established the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis scholarship program.

"I wanted to do something for young people to give them a chance to get an education," Masarachia, 94, said.

The donor and scholarship recipients, along with family members, met during the recent Liberal Arts Honors Convocation.

"I was happy to meet them," Masarachia said. "I was impressed with them. They are personable kids and I like their attitude."

Scholarship recipient Moriarty, the son of John Moriarty of Carmel, has participated in student government and the debate team at his high school. He has also assisted in campaigns for his aunt, long-time city county council member Mary Moriarty Adams. Moriarty will pursue a degree in political science at IUPUI.

"I cannot tell Mr. Masarachia all the thanks I have for him," Moriarty, a senior at Carmel High School, said. "His generosity is so incredible in a world plagued with human greed. Speaking for the other recipients, I know that we appreciate his generosity and will work as hard as possible to earn our scholarships."

Masarachia Scholar Evelyn Hovee, daughter of Larry and Nora Hovee of Indianapolis, is home-schooled. Her community involvement includes participation in the Optimist Club, a service project in China, and teen court. Hovee has received the Reach for Youth Volunteer Award and the Mayor's Community Service Award. She plans to pursue a degree in communication studies at IUPUI.

The Masarachia Scholars Program fund is expected to provide full tuition and fees to more than a dozen undergraduate students annually within four years. Scholarships based on need and merit will be awarded to students with a demonstrated interest in labor, senior citizen and community advocacy.

Sam Masarachia has been a labor and senior citizens activist throughout his adult life. He is a founding member of several organizations including the Fountain Square Senior Citizen Center, now known as the Southeast Senior Citizens Center, and the 16,000-member United Senior Action, Indiana's premier independent senior advocacy organization.

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