Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 3, 2003 Purdue launches $200 million scholarship campaignWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Opportunity will knock for students in each of Indiana's 92 counties, thanks to a Purdue University campaign to raise $5.5 million to provide scholarships for people who face unusual personal challenges and financial hardship.
The need-based Purdue Opportunity Awards Program is part of Purdue's $200 million scholarship drive – the largest student assistance campaign in the university's history – which was launched today (Thursday, 4/3) as the latest phase of the $1.3 billion Campaign for Purdue. The scholarship drive has already raised $75.5 million toward the $200 million goal. More than $2 million of the $5.5 million fund-raising goal for the Purdue Opportunity Awards Program has been contributed.
"When we invest in students, we invest in our future," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "Reaching out to students who have faced serious obstacles to continuing their education is an important part of keeping Purdue accessible to the people of Indiana. We must have not only a superior and diverse student body, but we also must ensure access to qualified students in Indiana. This campaign to raise money for scholarships will be a major part of that commitment." The Purdue Opportunity Awards Program will be available to incoming freshmen at the West Lafayette campus beginning in fall 2004. It will provide one freshman from each Indiana county a total financial aid package consisting of federal, state and Purdue aid that will pay for tuition, room and board for the recipient's first year at Purdue. For subsequent years, students will receive counseling from the university to help secure additional financial support and will be asked, in turn, to mentor the next group of students receiving the award. Recipients will be selected based on nominations from local educators and community leaders, who will work with Purdue to identify students with the greatest need. "The importance of scholarships in rewarding academic talent and maintaining access cannot be overstated," said Joyce Hall, executive director of Purdue's Division of Financial Aid. "Building a solid base of scholarship funds will serve as an important financial foundation for ensuring that academically talented students, regardless of family financial circumstances, can afford to attend and graduate from Purdue University." Jischke also announced that Purdue's scholarship drive already has received two major gifts. The Marcella Babel estate has contributed $1 million to honor her husband, the late Fred J. Babel, a Purdue food science professor. The gift was added to the Fred J. Babel Food Science Scholarship, which was established in 1994 by Don and Zoe Mather of Mt. Prospect, Ill. Alumni George and Jane Van Scoyoc, West Lafayette, also were recognized for their recent gift of $50,000, which was matched by the Lilly Endowment. The $100,000 will be used to provide four scholarships for students participating in Purdue Musical Organizations (PMO). "We believe that investing in students is a lasting contribution we can make," said Van Scoyoc, professor of agronomy. "We are hopeful that our contribution will encourage students to pursue their dreams and seek excellence both academically and musically." George earned his doctorate in 1976 from the School of Agriculture and then joined the Department of Agronomy faculty as professor. He also served as associate executive vice president for academic affairs from 1992 to 2001. Jane graduated in 1983 from the Krannert School of Management and recently retired as director of children's ministries at First United Methodist Church, West Lafayette. She currently volunteers with Purdue Musical Organizations and is an officer in the Purdue Women's Club. Their children, Amy and Steve, were both members of PMO. Amy was in the Purduettes from 1995 to 1998, and Steve was in the Glee Club from 1997 to 2001, serving as manager his senior year. Currently 705 members of Purdue's faculty and staff annually contribute more than $1,000 to various departments, organizations and charitable efforts to benefit the university. In addition to the Purdue Opportunity Awards, the $200 million scholarship campaign also will raise money to endow additional merit-based, need-based and leadership scholarships in the following areas: • Presidential Scholarships: 200 for National Merit Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, Valedictorian Scholars, Indiana Resident Top Scholars and Academic Success Awards. • George Washington Carver Fellowships: 50 for graduates of historically black, Hispanic-serving or tribal colleges who want to pursue careers as professors. • Student athlete scholarships: 26. • Purdue Musical Organizations scholarships: 200 endowed scholarships. • Bands scholarships: 200 endowed scholarships. • President's Leadership Initiative Awards: $3.5 million will be raised. • School/unit specific scholarship initiatives: $100 million will be raised. • Universitywide general scholarship financial aid initiative: $51 million will be raised. Purdue currently distributes almost $300 million in aid each year – $80.4 million is in scholarships, with the balance totaling more than $200 million in loans or employment related awards. This includes $182 million in aid to undergraduate students and about $107 million to graduate/professional and other students. Purdue freshmen from Indiana paid $5,590 in fees for the 2002-03 school year. Out-of-state students paid $16,260. In addition to the $200 million fund-raising effort for student scholarships, efforts also include plans to raise $200 million to attract and retain faculty, $200 million for programs and centers, $600 million for facilities and equipment, and $100 million in unrestricted funds. Writer: Jesica E. Webb, (7650 494-2079; jwebb@purdue.edu Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 Joyce Hall, (765) 494-5090; jjhall@purdue.edu George Van Scoyoc (765) 494-5115 John Sloan, senior director of development, (765) 494-0632; jsloan@purdue.edu Douglas Christiansen, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions, (765) 494-7014, dlchristiansen@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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