July 25, 2006

Ruch wins $1,000 scholarship from SIUC

by K.C. Jaehnig

 CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Chester resident Jamie D. Ruch (2705 Meadowview Drive), a graduate of Southwestern Illinois College, has received a $1,000 scholarship through the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois Community College Scholarship Program.

Created by SIUC Chancellor Walter V. Wendler in 2004 to enhance the relationship between SIUC and the state's two-year colleges, the program aims to reward these institutions' academic stars. Scholarship recipients must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4-point scale. Colleges may nominate as many as five candidates in ranked order. Scholarships, renewable for a second year, go to the top two.

Ruch, who plans to major in special education and elementary education at SIUC, is married to Adam Ruch. She also is the daughter of Cutler residents Gerald and Sonja Mikel.

Strengthening the undergraduate scholarship program is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.