June 01, 2006

Sims wins SIU Presidential Scholarship

by K.C. Jaehnig

 CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Adam Sims of Benton (9317 Water Road) has won a Presidential Scholarship that will pay for his tuition, fees, room and board at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for each of the next four years.

Worth about $56,000 in all, the grants are the largest awarded to the University's undergraduates.

The late James E. Walker, former president of SIU, set up the Presidential Scholarships in 2001. Each year, they go to 19 Illinois students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and who have at least a 3.75 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and a minimum ACT composite score of 29.

A graduate of Christopher High School, Sims plans to major in mechanical engineering at SIUC. He served as co-captain of the varsity football team and for all four years played an active role in the Scholar Bowl and in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering.

Sims is the son of Jewell and Donna Sims.

Strengthening the undergraduate scholarship program is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.