Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 21, 2004 Application deadline nears for Twenty-first Century Scholars ProgramWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program makes tuition available to Indiana students who might not otherwise be able to attend college – but parents must act quickly to enroll their children. Eligible middle school students must apply by June 30 of their eighth-grade year. To be eligible, students also must meet income guidelines, apply for financial aid and take a pledge. The pledge includes staying drug-free, graduating high school with a GPA of at least 2.0 and being admitted to an eligible Indiana college, university or technical school. Information on the application process is located at the state's Twenty-first Century Scholars Web site. Parents also can attend an informational meeting and fill out applications from 4-7 p.m. Monday (May 24) at the Cinergy/PSI Energy Building, 601 N. Third St., Lafayette. Aside from tuition benefits, the program offers free summer camps and visits to colleges and universities throughout Indiana. Other college preparatory activities include tutoring, mentoring, community service projects and newsletters on planning for college. To efficiently provide these services, Indiana is divided into 16 regional sites. Purdue University serves as host of the site that serves Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties. Parents of program participants can meet each other and gather college preparatory information during meetings that are conducted in each county. Several activities are planned for program participants and their parents. A free one-week summer camp on Purdue's campus will take place June 7-11, during which scholars will learn about Purdue and potential careers. Campers also will take a trip to a water park. Scholars can attend a second summer camp at the Purdue National Youth Sports Program, which runs from June 17 through July 21. Melinda Larson, site coordinator for the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program at Purdue, said she encourages middle school students to take advantage of this opportunity to make their dreams of higher education a reality. "Purdue University firmly believes that no student who has the desire and discipline to achieve a college degree should be denied that opportunity," Larson said. "The Twenty-first Century Scholars Program not only provides financial assistance for higher education at any Indiana college or university, but it also helps to prepare students by offering educational activities through which students explore and make new friends." Since the program was started in 1995, more than 3,400 participants have earned bachelor's degrees from Indiana colleges and universities. Nearly 4,000 additional participants have been awarded associate degrees. Approximately 850 Twenty-first Century Scholars currently attend Purdue. Purdue serves as host of the West Central Regional Support Site for the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program, which is managed by the Learning Communities, Access and Retention Programs Department, The department, in turn, is part of the Office of Enrollment Management. The West Central Regional Support Site works with more than 2,200 students in seventh through 12th grade to assist them in preparing for college. For more information about the program or related events, contact Twenty-first Century Scholars staff at (765) 496-0046, tfcs@purdue.edu. Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu Source: Melinda Larson (765) 496-0046, mllarson@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web site:
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