Purdue Opportunity Awards open doors for many first-time students

Now in its third year, the Purdue Opportunity Awards program pays for tuition, room and board for a high-need freshman from each of Indiana's 92 counties. The program gives students who may not have been able to attend college due to finances, personal hardships or other extenuating circumstances a way to further their education.

"We are committed to making a Purdue education an option for deserving Hoosier students, no matter what obstacles they face," Jischke said. "Young people are some of Indiana's greatest assets, and through the Purdue Opportunity Awards program, these students now have an opportunity to change their own lives. As these deserving students achieve their dreams of earning college degrees, we hope they will make differences in others' lives somewhere down the line."

Incoming freshmen are selected based on nominations from local educators and community leaders, who work with Purdue to identify students with the greatest need. The award is combined with federal, state and institutional funding to provide a financial aid package equal to a student's standard tuition, room and board during their first year at Purdue.

In their second year, recipients will receive up to an additional $2,750 to help fill the gap after federal, state and institutional aid has been awarded. Recipients also participate in financial counseling to help them secure other sources of financial support to continue their education.

"Along with scholarship money, the Purdue Opportunity Awards program provides students with the academic and personal support that they will need to be successful at Purdue," said Drew Koch, director of the Student Access, Transition and Success Programs, the department in which the awards program is housed. "Participants will take part in a variety of monthly activities during the academic year, including a retreat, several social activities and sessions to help them with skills such as time management, studying and wellness."

Maura Scully Murry, the Purdue Opportunity Awards program director, said, "As the Purdue Opportunity Awards scholars progress at Purdue, they will serve as mentors to the next class of recipients. By offering support and friendship to the new students, the mentors show the first-year Purdue Opportunity Awards scholars all they can achieve at Purdue University."

For the 2006-07 academic year, Purdue received 423 applications. A total of 94 students accepted the awards, Koch said. So far, Purdue Opportunity Awards have been given to 277 students representing all of the state's 92 counties.

The Purdue Opportunity Awards Program was launched during the Campaign for Purdue, a Jischke initiative to raise $1.5 billion, part of which is dedicated to increasing student scholarships.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

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

Maura Scully Murry, (765) 496-2462, poa@purdue.edu

Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-2096

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

To the News Service home page