Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Grateful scholars offer thanks to donors
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The Development Office and the USI Foundation sponsor a luncheon each year to celebrate the success of Presidential Scholars and to acknowledge the generous contributions of scholarship donors. The luncheon, held in March, offers an opportunity for scholars and donors to meet and exchange greetings. Comments from Presidential Scholars are a highlight of the luncheon each year. This year seniors David Isaacs and Kevi Baumgartner offered their views on the importance of the scholarships. Isaacs, who has been accepted into the Indiana University School of Medicine, said, “Because of the Presidential Scholarship, I was able to fully invest myself in both academics and extra-curricular activities and enjoy experiences that otherwise would have been out of reach. I have been able to devote myself to my education, activities, and my friends, all integral to education and growth. I would like to thank USI for granting me such a wonderful four years, and I would especially like to thank all the donors for their generosity. “You have provided a tremendous college experience for all scholars. I am extremely grateful, not just for your help these four years, but for the impact your support will have on the rest of my life.” Isaacs is from Evansville and a graduate of Reitz Memorial High School. Baumgartner, a nursing major, told donors she picked USI as her number one choice when she was applying for college. She said, “When I started searching for my dream college, I fell in love with USI right away. And when I received the news I had been chosen as a Presidential Scholar, it was a dream come true. “One of my greatest memories came from doing a service learning project at the Carver Community Center for a speech class. I became actively involved in the Evansville community through volunteering and community service. Because of the generosity of those of you in this room, I was able to volunteer at the local YMCA Pancake Days." “Because of this scholarship I explored my interest and in doing so actually found my passion. Exploring several majors opened new doors for me and in that search I found nursing. I have decided to help others by becoming a registered nurse." “One speech cannot begin to show our gratitude. But I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for giving me the chance to go after my dreams. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my college experience at USI more than I could have ever dreamed. Thank you for making dreams come true.” Baumgartner, from Coal City, Indiana, is a graduate of Clay City Junior Senior High School. 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. Ten scholars are chosen each year. A Presidential Scholar must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester to remain eligible for the scholarship, and the scholar must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) for 62 credit hours attempted and at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA for the remaining credit hours. To date, 193 Presidential Scholars have graduated from USI. |
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