Lafayette-West Lafayette mayors urge students to 'Scholar Up'

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor Jan Mills, at a news conference in Lafayette City Hall, pledged their support to the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program of West Central Indiana, administered by the Student Access, Transition and Success Programs department at Purdue University. Their first action was to proclaim Sept. 2 as Twenty-first Century Scholars Day. They also invited seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents to attend Scholar Up! enrollment festivities from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Labor Day in the Park event at Columbian Park in Lafayette.

At the event, Twenty-first Century Scholars staff will be available to hand out applications and answer questions about the program. They also will distribute prizes to eligible students.

The program, launched in 1990 and funded by the state, pays for the equivalent of Indiana public college tuition not covered by financial aid. Qualified students are Indiana residents whose families are in low to moderate income brackets.

To enroll in the program, eligible middle school students must apply by June 30 of their eighth-grade year. They also must meet income guidelines, apply for financial aid and take a pledge that 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.

Aside from tuition benefits, the program offers free summer camps and visits to colleges and universities throughout Indiana. The program also includes tutoring, mentoring, community service projects and newsletters on planning for college.

Drew Koch, Purdue Student Access, Transition and Success program director, said he hopes the Scholar Up! campaign encourages more junior high school students to realize their dreams of earning a college degree.

"The 'up' part reflects our effort to increase participation numbers, enhance the quality of life for the participants, and bolster the economic and civic well-being of the region and its residents," Koch said. "Since this program started, more than $85 million in scholarships have been distributed statewide. We'd like to increase that number even more."

Mills said the cities are eager to support programs that make college affordable for deserving students.

"The Twenty-first Century Scholars program is a great success story," Mills said. "Since it was launched, more than 5,000 scholars statewide have received college degrees. Every eligible seventh- and eighth-grader should take advantage of this program by enrolling as soon as possible."

Roswarski said he and Mills look forward to meeting new program participants at a pledge ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom.

"Nearly 560 students from Tippecanoe and Benton counties have filled out their applications and are currently on the invitation list," Roswarski said. "We'd like to pack the ballroom by enrolling as many additional students as possible."

The Twenty-first Century Scholars west-central regional support site, for which Purdue serves as host, serves Tippecanoe, Benton, White, Carroll, Montgomery, Warren, Fountain and Clinton counties. Staff members work with approximately 3,000 students in seventh through 12th grade to assist them in preparing for college. More than 400 seniors are expected to graduate this year and receive financial awards.

Total new seventh- and eighth-grade enrollment for 2005-06 by county was:

Benton: 44 students
Carroll: 24
Clinton: 119
Fountain: 61
Montgomery: 147
Tippecanoe: 511
Warren: 24
White: 137

Yvonne Smith, Twenty-first Century Scholars coordinator, said she is eager to explain the program to parents of potential scholars.

"I have spoken about the program with several groups in these counties and would welcome the opportunity to speak further with any group or parent who has questions," Smith said.

For more information about the Scholars Up! campaign or the Twenty-first Century Scholars program, contact program staff at (765) 496-0046, tfcs@purdue.edu

Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu

Sources: Drew Koch, (765) 496-3618, akkoch@purdue.edu

Yvonne Smith, (765) 494-7991, ynsmith@purdue.edu

Jan Mills, (765) 775-5100, mayor@city.west-lafayette.in.us

Tony Roswarski, (765) 807-1002, troswarski@lafayette.in.gov

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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