June 01, 2006

Johnson wins SIU Presidential Scholarship

by K.C. Jaehnig

 CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Caleb Johnson of Benton (708 E. Main St.) 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 Benton High School, Johnson plans to major in engineering at SIUC. His honors include membership in the National Honor Society, the Quad State Band and the River-to-River Band.

A competitive horse rider, he also played an active role in such activities as the Foreign Language Club, the Hovercraft Club, the student newspaper and a peer tutoring program.

Johnson is the son of Gerald and Julie Mumbower of Benton and Mt. Vernon residents Donnie and DeeDee Johnson.

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 approachesits 150th anniversary in 2019.