Scholars Program Marks 25 Years With Honors
The Dual Language Immersion Pilot Program is in its second year.
Indiana’s scholarship program for low-income students has honored 25 alumni, organizations and state leaders to mark the program’s 25th anniversary. The 21st Century Scholars program has provided full tuition scholarships for more than 70,000 Hoosier students since its founding in 1990.
Students can apply for 21st Century Scholars in seventh or eighth grade. Applicants take a pledge to stay away from drugs, alcohol and criminal activity, as well as maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5. The organization says many of its scholarships go to students who are the first in their families to attend college.
Among those recognized at the event were former Indiana Governor and U.S. Senator Evan Bayh as well as former state legislator and Commissioner for Higher Education Stan Jones.
Distinguished Scholar Alumni Awards:
Monique Armstrong
Hometown: Muncie
Muncie Central High School, Class of ‘01
Elijah Barry
Hometown: Kokomo
Kokomo High School, Class of ‘96
Hans Bernabe
Hometown: Fort Wayne
Concordia High School, Class of ‘11
Dakota Brooks
Hometown: Corydon
Corydon Central High School, Class of ‘13
Derek Chastain
Hometown: Campbellsburg
West Washington High School, Class of ‘96
Tiffany Coleman
Hometown: Muncie
Shelbyville High School, Class of ‘08
Billie Jo Day
Hometown: Shoals
Shoals Jr. Sr. High School, Class of ‘98
Omar Diaz
Hometown: East Chicago
Morton High School, Class of ’04
Aaron Dy
Hometown: Evansville
William Henry Harrison High School, Class of ’10
Sara George
Hometown: Centerville
Centerville-Abington High School, Class of ‘95
Tonya Hall
Hometown: Terre Haute
Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Class of ‘05
Chantelle Hendry
Hometown: Fort Wayne
Concordia Lutheran High School, Class of ‘02
Patrick Jessee
Hometown: Bloomington
Bloomington South High School, Class of ‘01
Michael Kendall
Hometown: Terre Haute
Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Class of ’08
Leroy Lewis III
Hometown: Indianapolis
Broad Ripple High School, Class of ‘95
Gustavo Lopez
Hometown: Hammond
Donald E. Gavit High School, Class of ’10
Danielle Nimtz
Hometown: Columbia City
Troy Center Alternative School, Class of ’13
Christian Orr
Hometown: Bloomington
Harmony School, Class of ‘96
Jamel Perryman
Hometown: Indianapolis
Warren Central High School, Class of ‘97
Elizabeth Retana
Hometown: Oakland City
Waldo J. Wood Memorial High, Class of ‘05
Jarod Wilson
Hometown: Rockville Rockville Jr./Sr. High, Class of ’04
Dominique Vaughn
Hometown: Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville High School, Class of ‘06
Sarah Vincent
Hometown: North Vernon
Jennings County High School, Class of ‘00
Amy Winkler
Hometown: Ferdinand
Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School, Class of ‘95
Caitlin Worm
Hometown: North Liberty
John Glenn High School, Class of ’06
Champion Partner Awards:
Benton County College Success Coalition
Indiana State University
Indiana University
Indiana Youth Institute
Ivy Tech Community College
Marian University
Project Leadership
Starfish Initiative
Vincennes University