What can make the seemingly unreachable dream of college a reality for underrepresented youth? For a select group of science-minded Indianapolis Public Schools students, it's Science Bound. In 2000, out of more than 1,500 graduates at Indiana's largest school system, fewer than 50 enrolled at Purdue University. Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke knew that recruiting larger numbers of IPS students to Purdue would help achieve two major goals of the University: To increase diversity and to fulfill Purdue's land-grant institution mission to educate the people of the state of Indiana. Alumnus Bob Bowen of Bowen Engineering Corporation also was interested in seeing more IPS students in West Lafayette. As an Indiana employer, he's invested in developing well qualified applicants close to home. He and the president brainstormed possible solutions, then focused on Science Bound, modeled after a program President Jischke launched when he was president of Iowa State University. The strategies behind the program were simple:

"Choose science-minded individuals from financially qualifying families, fine-tune their aptitude through after-school and summer instruction, and encourage them to take necessary college prep courses in high school. If, after successful completion of Science Bound, they were accepted into an approved Purdue field of study in science, technology, engineering, math or science education, or agriculture, the University would offer them full tuition scholarships.

Early in 2001, a team of faculty and staff from strategic areas at Purdue assembled under the leadership of then Vice Provost of Engagement Don Gentry. The group met with IPS representatives, the Indiana business community, and political leaders to formulate the Purdue Science Bound program. In the fall of 2002, with Julia Hains-Allen at the helm, we began our inaugural year. Wesley Campbell was hired as director in 2003.