June 01, 2006
Gimber wins SIU Presidential Scholarship
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Kaylyn Gimber of Coulterville (513 S. Main St.) 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 Coulterville High School, Gimber plans to major in music theater at SIUC. Her honors include selection as an Illinois State Scholar, Southern Illinois Student Press Association News Writing Champion and Illinois High School Association Sectional News Writing Champion. In addition, she received a Prairie State Achievement Award in reading.
She also played an active role in her school band and choir, belongs to Beta Club and Quill and Scroll, and performs with both the Sparta Community Chorus and the Southern Illinois Suzuki Strings.
Gimber is the daughter of Leo R. and Kathy Gimber.
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.
