June 01, 2006

Tussing-Palm wins SIU Presidential Scholarship

by K.C. Jaehnig

  CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Kirsten "Kiri" Tussing-Palm of Normal (1001 N. Fell Ave.) has won a Presidential Scholarship that will pay for her 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 University High School, Tussing-Palm plans to major in theater at SIUC. A member of the Thespian Board, her honors include a letter and bar in choir, listing on the honor roll and superior ratings in the Illinois Music Educators Association solo and ensemble competition.

She also played an active role in the madrigal and jazz choirs and on the school's literary magazine.

Tussing-Palm is the daughter of Chuck and Melody Palm and the granddaughter of Bob and Ann Tussing.

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.