Second Class of IU Hoosier Presidential Scholars Announced

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana University President Adam W. Herbert today (Aug. 24) announced that 60 high school students from Indiana have accepted offers to attend IU as Hoosier Presidential Scholars. This is the second year of the scholarship program.

Herbert initiated this highly competitive program, which is funded by a $10 million grant from the Lilly Foundation. The program's goal is to place more of Indiana's top high school students at IU campuses, with the hope that they might be more inclined to stay in Indiana after they graduate.

“These exceptional Hoosier Presidential Scholars are Indiana's future business and civic leaders,” Herbert said. “By providing a scholarship program that is second to none, we hope to keep our state's best and brightest students here at home where they can put their knowledge and skills to work after graduation.

“The establishment of this scholarship program with the support of the Lilly Endowment has been one of the most personally meaningful initiatives of my presidency,” he continued. “I am very proud that over the course of two years this university-wide program has grown from 32 to 60 Hoosier Presidential Scholars.”

This fall nine Hoosier Presidential Scholars will enroll at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 45 at the Bloomington campus, two at IU South Bend and one each at regional campuses in Gary, Kokomo, Richmond and New Albany.

The names and hometowns of members of the second class of Hoosier Presidential Scholars at IUPUI are:

Christine Allen, Elkhart
Tiffany Blackgrove, Huntingburg
Brandon Brungard, Martinsville
Mark Hood, Indianapolis
Jennifer Jamicich, Munster
Joshua Kutch, LaPorte
Austin O'Donnell, Elwood
Austin Sleppy, Shipshewana
Elisa VanEyk, Noblesville

Criterion for selection to the program includes class rank, grade point average, SAT I or ACT test scores and strength of high school curriculum. Also considered are each student's record of activities and leadership positions, record of community service, personal statement, and recommendation from a high school teacher, guidance counselor or community member. Indiana residency is required and preference is given to National Merit Scholarship qualifiers.

Unlike IU's other competitive scholarship programs, such as the Wells and Kelley Scholars, eligibility for Hoosier Presidential Scholarships is limited to Indiana residents.

These students will receive renewable scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 a year for four years, plus a new laptop computer. In their junior or senior year, the students will also receive an additional $1,000 award toward the cost of a semester of international study abroad.

“This exciting program gives each of our campuses a significant new tool to attract more of Indiana's most academically talented high school students,” Herbert said. “These students have the potential for high levels of success in their chosen professions. They will be Indiana's future leaders. Our responsibility is to offer them an educational experience commensurate with their exceptional abilities -- and we will do so.”

The investment provides roughly $500,000 a year in interest to support the program. From this fund, scholarship grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 are awarded to each participant. The student's campus must match this award on a 2-for-1 basis, resulting in a total value of $6,000 to $12,000 per student. As a result, each award is campus-specific and non-transferable to another IU campus. Each campus nominates students for the award from its applicant pool.

High school seniors who are interested in competing for next year's Hoosier Presidential Scholarships should be sure their enrollment application is completed and turned in yet this fall. Award offers for 2006 will be decided by Jan. 15.

For additional information, go to: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/3912.html.