Last modified: Thursday, August 15, 2002
Four of Indianapolis' best students selected as Wells Scholars at Indiana University
Editors: Publication-quality photos of all the Wells Scholars are available online at https://www.iuinfo.indiana.edu/avmedia/wellsscholars.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Four of Indianapolis' best students have been selected as Wells Scholars at Indiana University. The scholarship, named in honor of the late IU Chancellor Herman B Wells, ranks among the most competitive and prestigious awards offered by any American university.
Incoming freshmen selected as Wells Scholars are Grace Lin and Brian S. Matzke, graduates of Lawrence North High School; and Emily McFarlin, a graduate of Lawrence Central High School. Elizabeth "Libby" Lewis, an IU junior from Indianapolis, Ind., also was selected by the university as a Wells Scholar.
The scholarship, named in honor of the late IU Chancellor Herman B Wells, ranks among the most competitive and prestigious awards offered by any American university.
Lin, Matzke and McFarlin will receive full tuition, fees and a living stipend for four years of study on the IU Bloomington campus. Lewis will receive full tuition, fees and a living stipend for the remainder of her undergraduate studies.
The Wells Scholar program also offers special seminars, an optional year of study abroad and support for a summer research project or internship. It emphasizes close interaction with faculty, academic and career advising, opportunities for community service and contact with distinguished visitors. Wells Scholars are selected for having demonstrated character, leadership and distinction, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Below is more information on each of the scholars:
Elizabeth "Libby" Lewis
At IU, Lewis has been awarded the Bray Scholarship for academic merit, as well as the Palmer-Brandon Prize for high academic achievement from the College of Arts and Sciences. She was the 2001-2002 Indiana Memorial Union Board Director for Debates and Issues, a position in which she planned and executed campus-wide programs relating to current issues. With interests in politics and government, Lewis is pursuing majors in political science and philosophy, a minor in religious studies, and a certificate in the Liberal Arts and Management Program.
She is also a member of the LAMP Student Advisory Board. This summer, Lewis was an intern in Mayor Bart Peterson's office in Indianapolis. The previous summer, she held an internship in Indiana Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan's office.
She is a member of both the Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lamda Delta National Honor societies. At IU, she has also served as an Honors College mentor, an Honors Community Council leader and an IU floor governor.
Lewis graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. She is the daughter of David and Suzanne Lewis, 12234 Riverside Dr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Grace Lin
Valedictorian of Lawrence North High School, Lin earned additional honors as a Hoosier Scholar. She also won silver and gold medals with maxima cum laude distinction in the National Latin Examination, and a Wellesley Book Award. She was a Lawrence North Academic All-Star and won the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics Outstanding Achievement Award and the Purdue University Junior Scholar Award in Latin.
She placed first in eight events and won the Individual Academic Achievement Award Cup at the Indiana Junior Classical League State Convention in 2002. As a member of the Academic Decathlon team, Lin placed in several categories at the regional level. She was a three-year member and two-year captain of the Academic Super Bowl team and was the 2002 Academic Super Bowl State Champion in math.
Lin has won many awards for her writing from the Chinese American Cultural Association and also was a state finalist in forensics. She has received top ratings in violin at the Indiana state music competition. At her school, she was a member of the string orchestra, principal French horn for the symphonic band and president of the Latin club.
Lin intends to major in biochemistry and classical studies. She is the daughter of Dr. William Lin and Dr. Jane Tsai, 9001 Sargent Creek Dr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Brian Matzke
A National Merit Finalist, Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist and Purdue University Junior Scholar in English, Matzke graduated from Lawrence North High School. He also earned distinction in the National Forensic League, including qualifying for the national competition.
Matzke was awarded the Publications Achievement Award and was also a McColley Medalist; both awards are for excellence in writing on the school newspaper. He was a member and moderator of his school's political discussion group and served as the speech teams captain in his senior year. He was a reporter for the school newspaper and a member of the environmental club, and he participated in his school's theatre and musical productions.
He intends to pursue majors in English and political science. He is the son of Charles Matzke and Janice Beecher, 6225 Vancouver Ct., Indianapolis, Ind.
Emily McFarlin
Valedictorian of Lawrence Central High School, McFarlin also won top awards in Spanish and math and excelled in music. She earned first place in the category of non-stop conversation in the Spanish State Competition, studied in Ciudad Real, Spain, through the IU Honors Program in Foreign Languages and won a scholarship from the National Spanish Honor Society.
An accomplished musician, McFarlin received superior ratings in flute at the Indiana state competition for the past four years. She also was awarded the Matinee Musicale Scholarship Award in piano and participated in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Side-By-Side Program, in which students give a concert with professional musicians. She was principal flutist of the Indiana All-State Honor Band, as well as the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra and was principal flutist of her school's wind ensemble and orchestra.
Formerly of Tulsa, Okla., McFarlin was a member of her school's marching band, which was named the 2001 Grand National Champions, and the state champion concert band. She was a member of the Lawrence Township Leadership Program, as well as the Spanish club, the softball team, and an international folk dancers group.
McFarlin plans to pursue her passion for music with a major in flute performance. She is the daughter of Joy and Marty Pentz, 10568 Courageous Dr., Indianapolis, Ind.
