Friday, May 26, 2006
Presidential Scholars for 2006-2007 announced
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USI has announced the recipients of the Presidential Scholarships for the 2006-2007 academic year. Ten Indiana high school students ranked first or second in their senior class at the end of the fall semester are selected for the competitive scholarships each year. The scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board for a full four years. Each scholarship is currently valued at approximately $46,000. The 2006-2007 recipients are Sarah Braun of Newburgh, Gordon William Brown of Evansville, Kelly Jean Clem of Cynthiana, Renee Elizabeth Decaro of LaPorte, Samantha Loeser of Granger, Leslie Rae Pike of Evansville, Raul J. Ramirez of Oakland City, Christine Stephens of Crown Point, Lindsey VanDoornik of Evansville, and Skylar N. White of Patoka. Braun, the daughter of Pat and Mary Jo Braun, is a graduate of Reitz Memorial High School, where she was a member of the color and winter guards, Key Club, National Honor Society, choir, and Music Honor Society. She was a Peers Project mentor and participated in school musicals and the Academic Super Bowl. She was a member of the Newburgh Library Teen Advisory Council throughout high school. She has practiced taekwondo for four years and teaches it to children with cerebral palsy. Braun plans to major in biology and pursue a career in physical therapy. Brown, the son of Elaine Brown and Bill Brown, graduated from North High School, where he was a member of student council, class council, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, and Junior Civitan, and served as a student mentor. He received the University of Evansville Math Scholar Award and was a 4.0 Husky Scholar. He played baseball, was captain of the intramural basketball team for two years, and ran cross country his senior year. Brown plans to major in biology (pre-med) and attend medical school. Clem, the daughter of Michael and Phyllis Clem, graduated from North Posey High School. She was a National Merit Commended Scholar and a member of National Honor Society. She served as president of the student council and Spanish Club, and captain of the Academic Math Bowl team. She played softball and ran cross country throughout high school, and was a member of the choir for three years. She was the recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen and Outstanding History Student awards. Clem plans to major in elementary education and minor in special education. Decaro, the daughter of Daniel and Lisa Decaro, is a graduate of La Porte High School, where she played varsity golf all four years and was selected as Most Valuable Player her sophomore through senior year. She also was class treasurer and Spanish Club secretary, and participated in theater productions. She was a member of National Honor Society, Girls Reserves, and Future Problem Solvers, and volunteered at Stepping Stones Shelter for Women. She placed 13th in the state golf competition and will play for USI’s women’s golf team. Decaro is considering a major in psychology, pre-law, or pre-physical therapy. Loeser, the daughter of Charles and Mary Loeser, graduated from Trinity School at Greenlawn in South Bend. She was a peer tutor in algebra, pre-calculus, chemistry, and Latin throughout high school; played soccer; and was a member of chamber choir and theater productions. She earned two gold medals on the National Latin Exam and was chosen to represent her high school at Senator Richard Lugar’s Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Loeser volunteered at Memorial Hospital in South Bend her sophomore through senior year and plans to major in biology and chemistry before going on to medical school. Pike, the daughter of Arthur R. and Karen J. Pike, graduated from North High School, where she was class president her junior and senior year, and served on the student council and class council her sophomore through senior year. She was the recipient of the Principal’s Leadership and U.S. National Art awards. She was a cheerleader all four years and served as captain her senior year. Her memberships included Starpower Leadership Club, Business Professionals of America, student mentors, National Honor Society, Students against Destructive Decisions, Spanish Club, Art Club, Junior Civitan, Math Academic Team, and Fine Arts Academic Team. Pike plans to major in business administration with a minor in marketing, and pursue a law degree. Ramirez, the son of Raul and Irma Ramirez, is a graduate of Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School, where he served as captain of the soccer team; president and vice president of the drama club his senior and sophomore years, respectively; Book Club secretary; and historian for Upward Bound and Spanish Club. He was a member of the Spell Bowl, Art Team, Science Team, English Team, Math Team, Interdisciplinary Team, French Team, student council, and National Honor Society. Ramirez plans to major in chemistry and physics and attend medical school. Stephens, the daughter of Catherine Stephens, is a graduate of the Indiana Academy for Science, Math, and Humanities, a two-year residential high school for academically gifted Indiana juniors and seniors. She was a member of band, Key Club, Spanish Club, the softball league, and the Young American Bowling Alliance. In the summer of 2005, she worked in the Lake County Office of Community Redevelopment. Stephens plans to major in biology (pre-med) and attend medical school. VanDoornik, the daughter of Alan and Laurel VanDoornik, is a graduate of Reitz Memorial High School. She was a member of student council, National Honor Society, Key Club, and Spanish Club. She was on the volleyball, cross country, and track teams, and won multiple All-City Academic Awards for track and cross country. She was the recipient of many other awards during her high school career, including Superior Geometry Performance, Outstanding Algebra II Student, Outstanding Chemistry Student, Outstanding Junior English, Outstanding Spanish II Student, and the Bausch & Lomb Science Award. VanDoornik is considering a major in biology. White, the daughter of Dale and Tina White, graduated from Princeton Community High School, where she was a member of student council, National Honor Society, Key Club, the Academic Team, Spell Bowl, Speech Team, Spanish Club, Spirit Machine, Community Leadership, SADD, and Club 21. She served as a volunteer Life Skills peer tutor and was class president her junior and senior year. She played basketball her freshman year, and ran cross country all four years. In the community, she volunteered or tutored at three elementary schools and was a member of 4-H. White plans to major in pre-occupational therapy and psychology. A Presidential Scholar must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester to remain eligible for the scholarship. The Presidential Scholar must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) for 62 credit hours attempted, at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for the remaining credit hours. The Presidential Scholarship program began in 1988 to attract outstanding Indiana students to USI. The Presidential Scholarships are funded through private gifts to the USI Foundation. |
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