Purdue News

November 13, 1998 School, department scholarships can be hidden treasure WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- One secret to cutting college costs may be little-known financial assistance available to students in their own colleges, schools and departments. "Not every scholarship comes from the main university. Many are available at the school and department level specifically for students in particular fields," said Thomas W. Atkinson, a Purdue University academic adviser. Atkinson supervises 37 scholarships available in the School of Agriculture alone. "We work hard to let every incoming student know about the scholarships available to them, but every year I'll run across qualified candidates who never knew about them," Atkinson said. For some of those scholarships, the qualifications and competition are less stringent than those at the national and university scholarship level. Scholarship endowments come from all over -- alumni who want to make it easier for others to attend Purdue, those who want to stimulate interest in a particular discipline, and even companies that want to help promising students who may become top employees, said Karl Brandt, associate dean of Purdue's School of Agriculture, which posted a record $550,000 in available scholarship funds this year. But mostly, it's to help somebody get an education. "Scholarships reward students who have made a commitment to their education," Brandt said. Orville Redenbacher's Top of the Crop scholarship goes to the upper crust of the upperclass students who best answer "What one thing can I do better than anyone and why?" Part of the answer will be "Study," since a minimum 3.3 grade point average is required to compete for the $2,500 prize. A Purdue Ag Alumni Association scholarship named for Mauri Williamson, its fun-loving former director, offers serious money. The initial $3,000 award can be renewed for three more years for a total of $12,000. The criteria are serious, too -- top 5 percent of their high-school class and combined SAT scores of 1,300. Not all scholarships are based on academic achievement. Some are based on commodities and majors such as beef cattle or agronomy. Others are awarded strictly to Hoosiers based on their hometowns or are open to everybody who follows in the footsteps of the benefactor. The State of Indiana will help cut college costs for up to 46 needy freshmen who enroll in the Schools of Agriculture or Consumer and Family Sciences. Criteria are a record of 4-H achievement and financial need. Awards are given in the form of fee remissions. Demonstrated leadership and an interest in animal agriculture are expressly the most important criteria for $2,500 Oakley M. Ray award available for seniors. In contrast, only incoming freshmen and enrolled students from Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties can compete for Marquardt Scholarships. The awards range from $200 to $300, and 60 to 70 are made each year. The Albert A. Off Scholarship goes to juniors or seniors based on their financial need, extracurricular activities and the ability to improve agronomy. The Bratton-Brown scholarship goes to high-school seniors who come from single-parent households in Huntington or Montgomery counties. The $1,000 Hafele-Stinson scholarship always includes this paragraph in a letter to recipients: "Although we paid the prevailing tuition and fees, we now recognize that our Purdue education was largely subsidized by previous benefactors and by Indiana taxpayers. It is now 'pay back time' -- accepted with pleasure along with the fond memories and pride of being a Purdue alumnus. Perhaps someday you will be able to do likewise." For Brandt, that's the key. "It all comes down to somebody who thinks it's important for others to get an education," he said. "Regardless of the terms or the amount, the scholarship is there because somebody wanted someone else to have the same advantages they did." For freshmen and incoming students, scholarship applications are available in Indiana high schools or county Cooperative Extension Service offices. Sources: Tom Atkinson, (765) 494-8470; e-mail, twa@agad.purdue.edu Karl Brandt, (765) 494-8472; e-mail, kgb@agad.purdue.edu Writer: Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; e-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page