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News Release

Last modified: Thursday, December 1, 2005

Inaugural class of Cox Scholars at IU Bloomington and IUPUI announced

Scholarship for outstanding working students created by $15 million gift

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 1, 2005

EDITORS: Publication-quality photos of each Cox Scholar are available online at http://newsinfo.iu.edu/cat/page/normal/344.html. Today's announcement will be available for viewing live and on an archived basis at http://broadcast.iu.edu.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University today (Dec. 1) announced the first 21 recipients of the Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Scholarships at IU's Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses.

The new Cox Scholars, who all are from Indiana, include a single mother of four sons who is completing a postponed dream of a college degree. Many are the first members of their families to go to college. All are excelling academically as members of the dean's list but also need to work part-time and sometimes full-time to acquire an IU education.

"I have worked my way through not only college, but high school as well. I don't have much, but what I do have I am thankful for and place on a pedestal," said Cox Scholar Destiney Horton, a senior majoring in New Media at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Another Cox Scholar, Adam Bero, an IU Bloomington senior from Crown Point, Ind., added, "Growing up in an environment in which nothing was just given to me, and in which I was perpetually told about the importance of working hard for what one has, has afforded me the ability to think and function independently."

The Coxes' $15 million gift is the fourth largest gift ever made at IU for scholarships, said Curt Simic, president of the IU Foundation.

"This new scholarship is first and foremost for outstanding students," Simic said. "It recognizes excellence in academic performance, leadership and citizenship, combined with a strong work ethic. This work ethic is expressed in the requirement that the recipients work to earn at least one-fourth of their educational expenses. The Coxes understood from their own life experience both the challenges students face in financing their educations and the importance of that education to their futures."

IU President Adam W. Herbert added, "As a young man, I also was a working student who could not have earned a college degree without the benefit of scholarships. So I know how much the Coxes' gift means to each and every one of these scholarship recipients. Indiana University is deeply grateful to alumnus Jesse Cox for his commitment to passing on his opportunities to others."

Eleven of the Cox Scholars are first-generation college students and only a third of them receive financial support from parents.

Cox Scholars at IU Bloomington work an average of 20 hours each week, while maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7 (out of 4.0). Those at IUPUI work an average of 30 hours each week, while maintaining a 3.74 GPA.

Jesse Cox has said he and his wife have long desired to develop future leaders at IU and told the scholars earlier this month, "I was thinking about you before you were born." The 1944 IU graduate believes that "accumulated knowledge is the greatest key to happiness," and he wanted to "thank IU for six decades of supreme happiness."

"Beulah and I decided to establish the scholarship endowment because we believe that you do for the future what the past has done for you," Cox said.

The scholarships also offer special programs and seminars for the scholars and can be applied toward study abroad programs. Students are inducted annually, and the scholarships are renewable each year. Within three years, the Cox Scholarship Fund will provide 75 percent of the cost of attending undergraduate classes for 63 Indiana residents.

The Cox scholarship provides $13,500 annually to students enrolled at IUPUI and $12,000 to students enrolled at IUB. One-third of the scholarships will be awarded to IUPUI undergraduates and two-thirds to IU Bloomington undergraduates.To apply, they must have completed 26 hours of undergraduate course work and be at least of sophomore standing.

The Cox Scholars are:

• Karen Akers, Indianapolis, a sophomore majoring in general studies at IUPUI, who is a single parent working full time as a master gardener.
• Adam Bero, Crown Point, an IUB student who is a member of numerous honor societies including Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society.
• Rachel Beyer, Bloomington, an IUB sophomore pursuing a bachelor's degree in non-profit management and policy analysis in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She works two part-time jobs, is on the dean's list, and serves on the Collins Living and Learning Center Board of Governors.
• Amanda Bishel, Chesterton, an IUPUI sophomore majoring in Spanish, who has received numerous awards including the National Honor Society Scholarship.
• Stephanie Bruckman, Indianapolis, an IUB sophomore who serves as vice president of the Occupational Therapy Club and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies.
• Kathryn Bruner, Madison, a sophomore studying in IUB's Exercise Science Program and the Hutton Honors College.
• Heather Cloum, Oakford, an IUB senior majoring in biology who has held multiple jobs throughout college to pay for her education.
• Caroline Diggins, Indianapolis, an IUB sophomore majoring in English and a member of the Hutton Honors College. She is the recipient of many awards, including the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities' Casper Award and the Quill and Scroll Award for In-Depth Writing.
• Dominique Ding, Bloomington, an IUB junior majoring in business finance and economic consulting in the Kelley School of Business and the Hutton Honors College.
• John Elder, Indianapolis, an IUPUI sophomore who is a full-time employee at one of the nation's top living history museums, Conner Prairie. He has successfully balanced his job and a full course load to achieve IUPUI Highest Honors in 2004.
• Donald Harvey, Indianapolis, a junior transfer student from IUPUI to IUB majoring in journalism, who is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.
• Brittany Hite, Scottsburg, an IUB junior and first-generation college student pursuing a degree in journalism and political science. She recently was an intern for the Senate Majority Communications Department.
• Destiney Horton, Indianapolis, an IUPUI senior and first-generation student majoring in New Media, who also is a Sam H. Jones and IUPUI Community Service Scholar and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Fraternity. The founder of the Circle K campus organization, she works part time at the IUPUI Office of Student Scholarship as assistant scholarship coordinator.
• Aleksandr Kotlyar, Indianapolis, an IUPUI sophomore majoring in computer information technology and a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Business Professionals of the World.
• Garrett Nelson, Bloomington, an IUB senior majoring in studio art, who has made the dean's list his four years at IU. He is involved in the community and volunteers at The Rise.
• Katherine Ntiamoah, Munster, an IUB sophomore majoring in international studies, who is a 2004 recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award and a National Honor Society Scholarship.
• Brooke Owens, Terre Haute, an IUB sophomore and a first-generation college student pursuing a degree in classical civilization, who was awarded the Kappa Kappa Kappa Thespian award and the Summa Cum Laude National Latin Award in 2002 and 2004. She is a member of the Hutton Honors College.
• Scott Oliveras, Indianapolis, an IUPUI junior majoring in New Media, who works two part-time jobs totaling more than 40 hours a week in addition to running a business he started with his brother.
• Brittney Peppers, Indianapolis, an IUPUI sophomore pursuing a degree in secondary education, who works full time and tutors in an after-school program at her church.
• Richa Sharma, Indianapolis, an IUB sophomore and first-generation college student, who graduated with honors from Warren Central High School at the age of 16. She is majoring in biology while working part time to put not only herself, but also her sister, through school.
• Justin Uebelhor, Schnellville, an IUB senior majoring in political science and English and a first-generation college student.

To learn more about how to apply for the program, go to http://iufoundation.iu.edu/cox/index.html.

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