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September 29, 2000
New revenue sources, new scholars
add to Beering legacy
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.– The Steven C. Beering Scholarship, Purdue University's one-of-a-kind scholarship program, has two new funding sources and eight new honorees.
The new funds – one sponsored by Purdue family and friends, the other by former and current Beering scholars – are expected to raise nearly $800,000 in honor of the man who started it all: Steven C. Beering, president emeritus of Purdue University. The new contributions will add to the Beering Scholarship endowment program, currently nearing $15 million, which provides for full-ride scholarships through the doctoral level.
Sixty-seven students, including the eight freshmen in this year's selection, share distinction as recipients of Purdue University's most prestigious student award since Beering established it in 1986. The 2000-2001 Beering honorees are: Julia M. Badger of Saint Charles, Mo.; Megan L. Durr of Carmel, Ind.; Vandna Handa and Hans C. Lee, of West Lafayette; Jeffrey A. Myers of Indianapolis; Kristin J. Newhouse of Spring Arbor, Mich.; Samuel L. Vaughn of Charlestown, Ind.; and Brian D. Ventre of Newark, Del.
Beering, the university's president since 1983 before stepping down in August, established the scholarship in 1986 to attract students representing the highest standards of academic excellence and achievement. The award covers fees, tuition, housing, books and a cash allowance. By maintaining the required standards throughout their undergraduate education at Purdue, recipients may convert their scholarship into a fellowship as they pursue master's and doctoral degrees at Purdue.
This year's Beering scholars and a summary of their accomplishments are:
Badger graduated from Francis Howell High School, where she was a National Merit semifinalist in her senior year. During her high-school career, she won a Gateway Young Achiever Gold Medal; the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award; a Right Stuff Award from the Advanced Space Academy; and the Gold Helmet Award. She was the varsity captain of the Scholar Bowl, a coach for the "Odyssey of the Mind" program, a member of the marching band, treasurer of the French Club and an officer in Mu Alpha Theta. An active volunteer and tutor, Badger plans to study engineering with hopes of becoming an astronaut and working for NASA.
Durr, a graduate of Carmel High School, was a National Merit semifinalist in 1999. She won honors with a Top 25 Student Award, a 4.0 scholar-athlete award, and an Academic All-Conference recognition. She lettered for four years on the varsity track and field team, which earned back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999. She served as vice president of the National Honor Society and Key Club, treasurer of the Science Club, and Representative to the Intramural Board of Directors. In addition to peer mediating, she volunteered in a nursing home and as a Salvation Army bell-ringer. Durr is majoring in engineering.
Handa graduated from West Lafayette High School. Her accomplishments included serving as president of the Science Club, vice president of the World Affairs Discussion Group and co-captain of the debate team. She received the American High School Mathematics Exam Achievement Award, the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics Outstanding Scholar Award and participated in the Richard Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders. She has served as a research assistant at Purdue, tutored for the National Honor Society, played piano for nursing homes and acted in civic theater productions. Handa is an engineering major.
Lee is a graduate of William Henry Harrison High School. He was a National Merit semifinalist, president of the National Honor Society, and captain of the Varsity Quiz Bowl squad and the Academic Super Bowl squad. He was an Indiana Hoosier Boys State Delegate, served as a student council representative and earned the Defensive Most Valuable Player and Exchange Club Sportsmanship Award in boy's soccer. He also won first place for a screenplay in the Manchester College Creative Writing Contest. In addition to his accomplishments, Lee is active in volunteer work for his church. Lee is a biochemistry major and said he hopes to teach at a medical school.
Myers, a Cathedral High School graduate, was a National Merit semifinalist in 1999. He was in the top 5 percent in the Indiana Math Competition for three years, winning first place in the Algebra I/Algebra II division. He received the ICTM Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Mathematics. He served as captain of his school's Brain Game Team, a student council representative, Model United Nations General Assembly president and Science Club council leader. He tutored fellow students and also has volunteered for an animal shelter, St. Francis Hospital, the Kidney Foundation and for his church. Myers is a physics major.
Newhouse is a graduate of Western High School in Parma, Mich. She was National Honor Society president, captain of the Math Academic Games team, yearbook editor, co-captain of the cross country and track teams, student government class secretary and treasurer, and a member of her church youth group ministry team. She was a 1999 Girls State Delegate, a first-division-rated solo and ensemble band member, and the Michigan Math Prize Competition Exam finalist. She is also an active church volunteer, where she has served on missions to Mexico. A tutor for a special education student, Newhouse majors in engineering with aspirations for a career in mathematics.
Vaughn, a Jeffersonville High School graduate, received the Greater Clark County Academic Achievement Award, the Minor Greater Louisville Math League Award and special recognition by his school board for academic success. He also won an Optimist Club Essay Contest. He was president of the Math Team, National Honor Society committee secretary, Academic Super Bowl trigonometry specialist and chairperson of the Grant Committee for the Interact Club. His major is physics.
Ventre graduated from St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Del. Awards and honors he received include AP Scholar, National Merit Scholar, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Mathematics and Science Award, Dartmouth Club Book Award, and the Sons of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Medal. He also served as party and senate secretary for the American Legion Boys State, and was a member and recording secretary for the National Honor Society. He also served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and publications editor for the school literary magazine. He remains active as an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. Ventre is majoring in engineering and said he aspires to become an astronaut or to serve on a NASA team assisting space missions.
Sixty-seven students have benefited from the Beering Scholarship since its inception in 1986. There are 33 current Beering Scholarship/Fellowship Program recipients on campus, 28 undergraduates and five fellows pursuing graduate degrees. There are 34 alumni who have earned the Beering Scholarship.
The two new revenue streams will contribute to the overall Beering Scholarship endowment. At Beering's recognition dinner in May, members of the Purdue Board of Trustees announced they were creating a Purdue Family Beering Scholarship fund. This endowment includes contributions made at Beering's recognition dinner, the Board of Trustees' gifts to the program, as well as major gifts from the Purdue Alumni Association and Foundation, Physical Facilities, and the American United Life Foundation. The Purdue Family Beering Scholarship fund will be in excess of $500,000 when all the pledges are received.
The second fundraising effort to add to the scholarship program's endowment, the Beering Scholarship Alumni and Current Scholars and Fellows Scholarship fund, was initiated by scholarship alumnus Dr. Gregory M. Ayers. In April, Ayers began a campaign to raise $300,000 by enlisting all the current and former Beering scholars and fellows. Ayers said a fully funded award sponsored by all the Beering scholars would be a fitting tribute to Dr. and Mrs. Beering by carrying on the scholarship from one generation of students to the next. Ayers and his wife, Angela, provided the initial contribution to the fund. Additional contributions are expected during the next two to three years, said Joyce Koelzer, of the university development office, who oversees the Beering Scholarship.
Gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and Purdue alumni clubs also support the Beering Scholarship/Fellowship Program.
Source: Joyce Koelzer, (765) 496-3603; jkoelzer@purdue.edu
Writer: Grant Flora; (765) 494-2073; gflora@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Publication-quality photographs of the new Beering Scholars are available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+Beering.Scholars00.
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