Last modified: Thursday, January 11, 2007
John R. Gibbs Scholarship for Innovation to support Kelley School students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 11, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- John R. Gibbs, co-founder of Interactive Intelligence Inc., has committed to provide $100,000 to create a scholarship endowment for students in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, the majority of which already has been funded.
In October 2006, Gibbs created a similar $100,000 endowment to fund the John R. Gibbs Scholarship for Innovation for students enrolled in the IU School of Informatics
The Gibbs Scholarships will be used to attract to the Kelley School outstanding students who have demonstrated or expressed a stated interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. Preference will be given to Indiana residents and those students with a financial need.
The gift qualifies for IU Bloomington's Matching the Promise campaign and its impact will be doubled. The campus will match the typical $5,000 award, resulting in a $10,000 scholarship for the student.
"Because the Kelley School is such an excellent school and aspires to attract the best and brightest, I hope this endowment encourages and motivates others to provide scholarship support to maintain the continued excellence of the school," Gibbs said.
"Innovation can be found or created in any endeavor, area of interest or occupation," added Gibbs, a Carmel, Ind., resident who is a member of the school's Dean's Advisory Council. "It does not have to be in the information technology or high-tech arenas. That's why the scholarship requirements are open to a wide variety of applicants. I do hope this endowment encourages and motivates others to provide scholarship support for the Kelley School of Business."
Dan Smith, dean of the Kelley School, expressed appreciation for Gibbs' gift and his involvement with the DAC. "John has long been deeply involved with the school," Smith said. "He is well-known and highly regarded in the business community, particularly in the area of technology. It is truly an honor to offer a scholarship in his name, a scholarship that will help change the lives of students for many years to come."
Gibbs is active in various business, civic and academic activities in Indianapolis and throughout the state, and has received numerous awards for his public and private contributions. He received his undergraduate degree in business in 1972 at IUB, where he later pursued graduate work in business economics and finance.
