USI proudly introduces 2016-2017 Top Merit Scholars
The University of Southern Indiana welcomes the class of 2020 top merit scholarship recipients. Twenty-four incoming freshmen received Presidential, Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine and Deans Scholarships. These students are joining the USI community from large metropolitan areas, as well as rural communities, and represent a wide cross-section of backgrounds and interests.
The incoming freshman class continues a trend of having the strongest credentials in the University's history, and represents some of the brightest students the state has to offer. Average high school GPAs for incoming freshmen are at an all-time high for the University at 3.37. And, for the third year, Tri-State area high school valedictorians made USI one of their top two college choices.
Presidential Scholars
Presidential Scholarships are awarded annually to 10 Indiana valedictorians and salutatorians of senior high school classes, who are chosen after a competitive interview process. Applicants must attend a state-commissioned high school in Indiana and earn an SAT score of 1200 (without writing component) or 1800 (with writing component), or an ACT composite score of 27. The program began in 1988 as an initiative to bring outstanding Indiana students to USI. The full-tuition scholarships are funded by private donors to the USI Foundation.
Sydney Altmeyer, of Huntingburg, received the SIHE Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Southridge High School, Altmeyer plans to study exercise science in USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.
Kelli Buechler, of Ferdinand, received the Fifth Third Bank Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Forest Park High School, Buechler plans to study finance in USI's Romain College of Business.
Sarah Jaeger, of Fishers, received the Robert & Judith A. Griffin Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Fishers High School, Jaeger plans to study business administration in USI's Romain College of Business.
Jenna Johnson, of Washington, received the Aline Nunn Renner Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Washington High School, Johnson plane to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Kayla Jordan, of Patriot, received the Ray & Mary Pelle Goebel Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Switzerland County High School, Jordan plans to study psychology in USI's College of Liberal Arts.
Rebeka Mercker, of Ferdinand, received the W. Paul and Mildred Torrington Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Heritage Hills High School, Mercker plans to study Biochemistry (Pre-Med) in USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.
Zoe Meuth, of Evansville, received the Linda and H. Ray Hoops Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Francis J Reitz High School, Mueth plans to study international studies in USI's College of Liberal Arts.
Grant Pemberton, of Lynnville, received the Henry W. & Helen N. Ruston Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Tecumseh Jr-Sr High School, Pemberton plans to study business administration in USI's Romain College of Business.
Amberlyn Pride, of Elberfeld, received the Bill & Trudy Mitchell Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Tecumseh Jr-Sr High School, Pride plans to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Emma Warge, of Evansville, received the Hafer Associates PSC Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Reitz Memorial High School, Warge plans to study mathematics in USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.
Deans Scholars
Deans Scholarships are awarded annually to 10 exceptional students from across the country who rank at or near the top of their high school classes. Applicants meet similar academic requirements to those of B/MD scholars. Deans Scholarships provide an award of $2,000 each year, funded by private donors to the USI Foundation. Most Deans Scholars receive additional scholarship funding through their academic departments.
Luke Alberson, of Salem, Illinois, received the Drs. Olen Z. & Inez G. Pumphrey Endowed Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Salem Community High School, Alberson plans to major in finance.
Riley Cornett, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, received the Emma A. Gorby Endowed Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School, Cornett plans to major in communication studies in USI's College of Liberal Arts.
Erika Dunkelberger, of Evansville, Indiana, received the Bess C. and Elmer W. Halwes Scholarship. Concluding her home schooling, Dunkelberger plans to major in business administration in USI's Romain College of Business.
Sophia Fields, of Breese, IL, received the David L. Rice Endowed Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Mater Dei High School, Fields plans to major in nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Shelby Heins, of Monument, Colorado, received the Edward F. Harrison Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Lewis Palmer High School, Heins plans to major in nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Jaelyn Leib, of Flora, Illinois, received the Margery F. Kahn Memorial Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Flora High School, Leib plans to major in biology in USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.
Emily Linn, of Owensboro, Kentucky, received the Kenneth E. & Elizabeth J. McCoy Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Owensboro Catholic School, Linn plans to major in exercise science in USI's Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.
Hailey Quinn, of Harrisburg, Illinois, received the Olive Carruthers Clifft Endowed Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Harrisburg High School, Quinn plans to major in social work in USI's College of Liberal Arts.
Elizabeth Stephens, of O'Fallon, Illinois, received the Henry W. & Betty Jane Ruston Endowed Deans Scholarship. A graduate of O'Fallon Township High School, Stephens plans to major in nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.
Kayleigh Wood, of Sebree, Kentucky, received the Jennings D. and Josephine K. Carter Scholarship. A graduate of Webster County High School, Woods will be exploring a variety of fields to study.
Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine Scholars
Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine (B/MD) Scholarships are awarded to exceptional Indiana high school students annually, who meet similar academic requirements to those of Presidential Scholars. The B/MD Scholarship program, which offers a provisional seat in the Indiana University School of Medicine to each recipient, is sponsored jointly by USI and the Evansville Center for Medical Education, Indiana University School of Medicine. The full-tuition scholarships are funded by private donors to the USI Foundation.
Tanvi Asthana, of Evansville, Indiana, received the Delored & Charles Browning and Jennifer & Mark Browning Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, Asthana plans to study biochemistry/pre-medicine.
Gunnar Lynch, of Tennyson, Indiana, received the Ethel Reed Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Boonville High School, Lynch plans to study biochemistry/pre-medicine.
Nicole Nord, of Jasper, Indiana, received the William C. H. Jr. & Phyllis R. Grimm Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Jasper High School, Nord plans to study biology/pre-medicine
Taylor Robinson, of Newburgh, Indiana, received the Thomas E. Topper Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, Robinson plans to study biology/pre-medicine.
Merit Scholars must maintain full-time continuous enrollment in each regular semester, with a minimum of 30 semester hours successfully completed each academic year.
Students who want to apply for 2017-2018 USI Merit Scholarships should submit an application, along with related admission materials and most recent high school transcript, by January 15, 2017. For more information, visit usi.edu/financial-aid/aid/scholarships/freshmen-scholarships-2016-beyond.