December 03, 2010
Scholarships will support high-achieving freshmen
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A new scholarship fund aims to foster support of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s student recruitment and enrollment challenges.
The SIU Foundation Board of Directors is establishing a scholarship fund for high-achieving freshmen. It is striving to attract some of the best and brightest incoming students to the institution, with aspirations of making funds available to students as early as the fall 2011 semester.
The Foundation created this fund to encourage contributions in support of incoming freshmen, thereby, increasing student enrollment figures and developing long-term financial stability for the University.
“The Foundation’s primary purpose is to raise money to support the educational mission of the institution,” says Rickey N. McCurry, vice chancellor for institutional advancement and chief executive officer of the SIU Foundation. “Members of the University community and loyal supporters can have a positive impact on our budget issues by making a contribution that helps bring in new students.”
McCurry says that SIU Carbondale Chancellor Rita Cheng is making the first contribution to the new fund. Criteria for the Freshman Academic Scholarship include: (1) admission to SIU Carbondale as a freshman, and (2) status as a high-achieving student consistent with the criteria of the SIU Academic Scholarship for freshmen. Recipients of the scholarship will be known as Freshman Academic Fellows. The academic scholarship office within SIUC’s Division of Enrollment Management will select award recipients.
John Nicklow, interim assistant provost, says the scholarship is a pertinent factor in recruiting accomplished students to the University.
“This is a wonderful way to utilize the generous support of employees and friends of the campus,” Nicklow says. “It directly impacts enrollment by increasing our ability to attract more high-quality students and, in turn, increases revenue to support our mission.”
Those who are interested in supporting the scholarship can write a check payable to the SIU Foundation (1235 Douglas Drive, Colyer Hall, Carbondale, Illinois 62901), or visit the Foundation online at: www.siuf.org. Donors will need to designate: “Freshman Academic Scholarship” by typing these words in the comments portion of the online giving page. You can also make a contribution by visiting the Undergraduate Academic Scholarship page of the SIU website http://scholarships.siuc.edu and click on the Opportunities to Support Scholarships button.
Students can apply for the scholarship by visiting the University’s website: (www.siuc.edu), and click on the Financial Aid link under “Current Students.”