Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ernest Griffin receives Dain Garrett Merit Scholarship for overcoming significant obstacles
Connie Pitzer and Ernest T. Griffin
Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 Griffin is the son of Ken Griffin and Rosemary Morse, both of Evansville, and is engaged to be married to Natalie Head. He first enrolled at USI in 2003, immediately after graduating from high school and completing basic training, and did poorly. "I didn't even have a 1.0 GPA," he said, "but after a series of events which included two deployments to Iraq, I came back to USI and was able to devote myself fully to school." Griffin has taken 18 hours each semester and during the summer for the last two years. "With the help of the GI Bill and the dedication of my fiancee, I had the opportunity to excel," he said. He expects to graduate at Fall Commencement in December. The scholarship was established by Dain Garrett, who graduated from USI in 1999 with a perfect 4.0 GPA despite a long struggle with muscular dystrophy. After graduation, he went on to complete a master's degree from California State University Dominguez Hills, passing away just prior to receiving his degree. As a USI student, Garrett won many of the prizes awarded by the USI History Department, and upon his graduation, he used his award money to establish this annual cash prize to assist students who struggle against physical, economic, or other hardships. Garrett was the son of Connie Pitzer of Evansville and Don Garrett of Carmi. Contributions to the Dain Garrett Merit Scholarship are accepted by the USI Foundation. |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.
