USI recognizes 36 freshmen as Class of 2021 Merit Scholars

The University of Southern Indiana welcomes the class of 2021 top merit scholarship recipients. Thirty-six incoming freshmen received Presidential, Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine, Deans and Provost Scholarships. These students represent some of the brightest students from across the Midwest as well as a wide cross-section of backgrounds and interests.

Click here for a photo gallery of merit scholarship recipients.

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 an accredited high school and earn an SAT score of 1290 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 Beard, of Robinson, Illinois, is the recipient of the Fred C. Newman Family Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Robinson High School, Beard plans to study mathematics in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Lily Casavant, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Homer L. and Olive Carruthers Clifft Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, Casavant plans to study public relations in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Megan Centers, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Harold W. Ashley Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of North High School, Centers plans to study chemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Tori Jones, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Henry J. and Hazel D. Benninghof Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Central High School, Jones plans to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Derek Oxford, of Benton, Illinois, is the recipient of the Marian Baker Boelson Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Benton Consolidated, Oxford plans to study mechanical engineering in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Kennedy Stoll, of Haubstadt, is the recipient of the Edward F. Harrison Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Gibson Southern High School, Stoll plans to study biochemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education

Hope Tominack, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Stanley B. & Ruth C. Atkinson Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of F. J. Reitz High School, Tominack plans to study biochemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

David Wahl, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Rebecca Nunn Couch Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, David plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education

Carly Wahl, of Owensboro, Kentucky, is the recipient of the Richard A. and Susie Gumberts Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Apollo High School, Carly plans to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Grace Wolfinger, of Evansville, is the recipient of the Olive Carruthers Clifft Endowed Presidential Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, Wolfinger plans to study public relations in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Provost Scholars

The University of Southern Indiana Provost Scholarship is a new scholarship program intended to promote academic excellence. For selected scholars, the University provides awards that waive full tuition. These awards are coordinated with other tuition-specific aid (if applicable) to ensure that the total of tuition-specific assistance does not exceed total tuition charges. Students who meet all requirements for the USI Presidential Scholarship will be considered as candidates for this award in the event they are not selected to receive the Presidential Scholarship.

Ralph Billington, of McLeansboro, Illinois, a graduate of Hamilton County High School who has yet to select a major.

Ashtyn Cowling, of Carmi, Illinois, a graduate of Carmi-White County High School who plans to study elementary education in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Irelane Enoch, of Madisonville, Kentucky, a graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School who plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Faith Fishel, of West Salem, Illinois, a graduate of Edwards County High School who plans to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Danielle Lubbe, of Shelbyville, a graduate of Shelbyville High School who plans to study social work in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Tori Matanich, of Clay City, Illinois, a graduate of Clay City High School who plans to study social work in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Rebecca Matias, of Indianapolis, a graduate of Monrovia Junior-Senior High School who has yet to select a major.

Ethan Rose, of Wadesville, a graduate of North Posey High School who plans to study biochemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Sarah Schnautz, of Evansville, a graduate of F. J. Reitz High School who has yet to select a major.

RaAnna Tucker, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, a graduate of University Heights Academy who plans to study psychology in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

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.

Marina Blackwell, of Bloomington, is the recipient of a Thomas and Diane Krueger B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Bloomington South High School, Blackwell plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Emma Buechlein, of Lamar, is the recipient of a Victor V. Schriefer Jr. Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Heritage Hills High School, Buechlein plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Hania Khan, of Indianapolis, is the recipient of an Ethel Reed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Lawrence North High School, Khan plans to study chemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

William Talbert, of Newburgh, is the recipient of the Thomas E. Topper Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Signature School, Talbert plans to study biochemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Hans Webber, of Newburgh, is the recipient of a Victor V. Schriefer Jr. Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Castle High School, Webber plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Adam Zhuang, of Columbus, is the recipient of an Ethel Reed Endowed B/MD Scholarship. A graduate of Columbus North High School, Zhuang plans to study biology in the 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. Recipients of Deans Scholarships receive 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.

Darby Baker, of Magnolia, Texas, is the recipient of the Margery F. Khan Memorial Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School, Baker plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Peighton Barber, of New Castle, is the recipient of a Dr. Z. Olen & Inez G. Pumphrey Dean Scholarship. A graduate of New Castle Chrysler High School, Barber plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Sierra Coon, of Russiaville, is the recipient of the Bessie C. and Elmer Halwes Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Western High School, Coon plans to study chemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education

Alexandra Fifer, of Wadesville, is the recipient of the Frederick B. Reichmann Deans Scholarship. A graduate of North Posey High School, Fifer plans to study chemistry in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

Arielle Graper, of Fort Branch, is the recipient of the Kenneth E. and Elizabeth J. McCoy Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Gibson Southern High School, Graper plans to study nursing in USI's College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Emily McClusky, of Herod, Illinois, is the recipient of the Homer L. and Olive Carruthers Clifft Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Hardin County High School, McClusky plans to study English in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Brian Mitchell, of Taswell, is the recipient of a Dr. Z. Olen & Inez G. Pumphrey Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Crawford County High School, Mitchell plans to study history in USI's College of Liberal Arts.

Alec Olinger, of Sellersburg, is the recipient of an Aline Nunn Renner Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Silver Creek High School, Ollinger plans to study accounting and finance in the Romain College of Business.

Adam Sweeney, of Springboro, Ohio, is the recipient of an Aline Nunn Renner Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Archbishop Alter High School, Sweeney plans to study business administration in the Romain College of Business.

Leah Thomas, of Vincennes, is the recipient of the Arthur G. and Elsie D. Kansler Deans Scholarship. A graduate of Lincoln High School, Thomas plans to study biology in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

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 2018-19 USI Merit Scholarships should submit an application, along with related admission materials and most recent high school transcript, by January 15, 2018. For more information, visit usi.edu/financial-aid/aid/scholarships/freshmen-scholarships-2016-beyond.