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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Fort Wayne's Sayed and Zilz named Wells Scholars at IU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 10, 2006

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Javed Sayed and David Zilz from Fort Wayne, Ind., have been selected as Wells Scholars at Indiana University, joining 17 other entering freshmen so honored. They will this fall join more than 320 others who have been named Wells Scholars since 1990.

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. Since its inception, more than two dozen Wells Scholars have gone on to earn prestigious Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Soros, Mitchell, Churchill, Fulbright and Goldwater scholarships for advanced study.

Javed Sayed

An AP Scholar with Distinction, Sayed graduated from Homestead High School and was honored with the U.S. Department of Education's Robert C. Byrd Scholarship. He helped his school's Academic Super Bowl science team capture a state title and its Academic Super Bowl social studies team advance to the state level. He was a member of the Academic Decathlon team, which placed third in state, and the Economics Challenge team, which placed second in the region at the advanced level.

Winner of the Northeast Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Sayed participated in the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair his senior year. He also qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. He served as vice president of Homestead's speech team and won multiple awards from the National Forensic League, including a Degree of Excellence. A member of Quill and Scroll journalism honor society, he served as news editor and opinions editor of his school newspaper. In addition, he was an executive board member of his school's chapter of National Honor Society and president of its Key Club, and he represented his school at Hoosier Boys State. A four-year volunteer at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, he was selected to participate in IU's Integrated Freshman Learning Experience and plans to major in biology and health administration.

David Zilz

A National Merit Scholar, Zilz graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School as valedictorian, earning distinction as a DAR Good Citizen state finalist. He was a member of his school's Junior Engineering and Technical Society team, which placed 11th in national competition. He earned summa cum laude distinction on the National Latin Exam, qualified for the national American Invitational Mathematics Exam, placed third in Northeastern Indiana in the American Chemical Society Exam and he was named an Indianapolis Star Regional Academic All-Star.

Active in music, theater and sports, Zilz performed in his school's jazz band; marching band, which competed in state finals; and symphonic band, which he served as an officer and board member. He received his school's Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and top ratings at state in percussion ensemble and piano solo competitions. He performed in and helped direct Concordia drama productions. A member of the varsity cross country team, which he co-captained his senior year, he was named an all-conference runner. He was also a member of the varsity track and wrestling teams.

A student Rotarian, he attended the Rotary World Affairs Conference and participated in the German American Partnership Program in Germany. He will explore a variety of fields before deciding on a major.

Many previous Wells Scholars today contribute to Indiana as residents who are attorneys, doctors, school teachers and business people, and even an ordained minister. Others have gone on to clerk for Indiana and U.S. Supreme Court justices, are engaged in international relief and service efforts and are scholars at other renowned educational institutions such as Harvard Business School and Cornell Law School. There are Wells Scholars currently serving in the Armed Forces and other positions in government.

To honor Wells, IU created the Wells Scholars Program, which began with fund-raising efforts in 1988 and the appointment of Professor Breon Mitchell as its founding director. In 1990, IU welcomed its first class of Wells Scholars and on June 7, 1992, Wells' 90th birthday, he was officially presented with the Wells Scholars Program, as a gift from his many friends and admirers. After his death in the spring of 2000, this community of talented and dedicated young scholars remains as a permanent legacy of his educational vision.

Wells Scholars receive full tuition and course-related fees, as well as a living stipend for four years of undergraduate study on the Bloomington campus of IU. The program also offers special seminars, an optional year of study abroad, and support for a summer research project or internship. The Wells program 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 exceptional qualities of character and leadership and distinction both inside and outside of the classroom.

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