June 01, 2006
Weitzel wins SIU Presidential Scholarship
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Christopher "Chris" Weitzel of Petersburg (132 North Shore Drive) 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 Petersburg PORTA High School, Weitzel plans to major in physics at SIUC. A National Merit Scholarship finalist, he was also active in the Scholastic Bowl and the Science Olympiad.
Weitzel is the son of Robert E. and Tina Weitzel.
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.