INDIANAPOLIS - Betty Kendall never misses an opportunity to learn.
The former school teacher said she visits Ball State University's campus at least three times a week. Whether she's sitting in on a few graduate classes, attending a theatrical show or hearing a lecture, the 1937 alumna is dedicated to higher education.
However, Kendall's dedication extends beyond her own.
"I'm particularly excited to help a young student achieve his dream," she said.
Kendall is one of 11 donors who pledged $10,000 to help create 15 one-time scholarships for the 2005-2006 freshman class. President Jo Ann Gora said she decided to forego the traditional inaugural ceremony to use the $150,000 toward the Inaugural Scholarship Fund.
"As I thought about an on-campus ceremony," Gora said at a news conference Wednesday with Gov. Mitch Daniels at the Indiana State House, "a much larger timing issue came to mind and how such a ceremony fits into the picture of higher education during tough budgetary times in Indiana."
Daniels said he was impressed with the university's innovative and efficient way to help Indiana students.
The university needs to raise $300,000 by April to support the scholarships. The Inaugural Scholarship Fund already has $260,000, Gora said. The medallion benefactors, who pledged $10,000 each, donated $110,000 collectively, and the university chipped in $150,000 from the operational budget, the money that would have supported Gora's inauguration.
"Our challenge is always to stretch our resources as far as they will go," Gora said.
The recipients will receive $5,000 each year for a total of $20,000 during their four-year career at Ball State. The students can use the money for educational expenses, such as tuition, room and board or books, Glenn Augustine, associate director of university communications, said.
The students will also receive the university's presidential scholarship, which pays for half of honors students' tuition.
"This was new. This was bold," Tom DeWeese, Board of Trustees president, said, "and just like Dr. Gora, it couldn't be more right for Ball State right now."
Incoming freshmen can apply for the Inaugural Scholarship by first applying for the Whitinger Scholar Program, a four-year academic scholarship that pays full tuition and room and board fees.
Indiana students who meet the academic requirements to be Whitinger Scholars but are not selected are invited to apply for the Inaugural Scholarship, Augustine said. Students cannot receive the Inaugural Scholarship and be a Whitinger Scholar as well.
Invited students are required to submit an essay and go through an interview process with the scholarship committee. The committee will announce the recipients in April.
Daniels will join Gora in congratulating the students, and he will officially install Gora as the university's 14th president at a ceremony for the recipients and their parents in April.
"It's a new time in Indiana," DeWeese said, "and a new era for Ball State University. We're proving that we'd rather stand by students than stand on ceremony."
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