Contact: Bess German, MSU Honors College, (517) 355-2326; or Kristin K. Anderson, University Relations, (517) 353-8819, ander284@msu.edu
6/23/2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. � Eighteen high school seniors from throughout the country have been awarded Michigan State University�s top academic scholarships for 2004.
These academically talented students are the recipients of either an Alumni Distinguished Scholarship (ADS) or a University Distinguished Scholarship (UDS), the most prestigious scholarships offered by the university. The scholarships cover full tuition, room and board, books and other academic expenses for up to nine semesters of undergraduate study.
The total value of the scholarship for in-state students is nearly $60,000 and the value of the award for out-of-state students is more than $100,000.
�MSU is pleased to welcome these extraordinary and engaged students to campus,� said MSU President-Designate and Provost Lou Anna K. Simon. �We look forward to their future academic and civic accomplishments.�
Alumni Distinguished Scholars are:
Aaron Jay Benmark, Lowell
Edwin Chen, Troy
Melissa Anne Elafros, Holland
Dana Michelle Galbreath, Neshanic Station, N.J.
Erin Marie Healy, Jenison
Aubrey Melissa Higginbotham, Overland Park, Kan.
Thomas Jeffrey Lavoy, Leslie
Emma Jean Meyer, East Lansing
Alexander Dennis Nezich, Marquette
Katherine Courtney Rabidoux, Grosse Pointe Woods
Joshua Eugenio Romero, Grosse Pointe Woods
Zafar Asif Sayed, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Bryan Ellis Wagenknecht, Haslett
University Distinguished Scholars are:
Hamood Arham, Islamabad, Pakistan
Heather Born, Lake Zurich, Ill.
Tara Franey, Lexington, Ky.
Kristen Kelly, DeWitt
David Ringham, Peoria, Ill.
The students� average high school grade point average is 4.2 on a 4.0 scale. The average ACT score is 34 (out of 36) and the average SAT score is 1530 (out of a possible 1600).
Many of the 18 ADS and UDS scholars plan to major in science fields, including physics, computer science, pre-optometry, astrophysics, chemistry, pre-veterinary science and biochemistry and molecular biology; five plan to pursue majors through the Lyman Briggs School of Science. Several students plan to pursue civil, chemical, mechanical or biosystems engineering majors. Two students plan to pursue majors within the James Madison College and in history.
The ADS and UDS scholars will participate in MSU Honors College programs in addition to the academic work in their majors.
�We are very excited that these scholarship recipients have chosen to come to MSU and participate in Honors College programs,� said Ron Fisher, director of the MSU Honors College. �They will join the more than 2,500 Honors College students who are pursuing honors academic programs, participating in research and enriching the university community.�
The scholarships are among the most competitive in the country. Recipients of the ADS awards are selected from more than 1,100 high school seniors who applied to MSU and came to take an intensive general knowledge examination. The UDS program also is based on merit and is equivalent to the ADS scholarship but does not require students to take the general examination.
ADS winners are selected by a committee of faculty and administrators based on results of the scholarship examination, high school program and achievements, other standardized test scores and interviews with the finalists. UDS recipients are selected on the basis of their high school program and achievements, and standardized test scores.
For more information on scholarship opportunities, visit the MSU Office of Admissions Web site at www.admissions.msu.edu. For more information on the MSU Honors College, visit the Web at www.msu.edu/unit/honcoll