Nearly 200 Twenty-First Century Scholars to be honored Sunday (5/4)

Nearly 200 students in grades seven through 12 from Lake, Porter and Newton county public and private schools will celebrate their status as Twenty-First Century Scholars, Sunday (5/4) at Purdue University Calumet.

A congratulatory reception and program for the students, their families and friends—an expected gathering of more than 500—is scheduled at 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall of the University’s Student Union & Library.

Rich Niemiec, Purdue alumnus and principal/executive vice president of the information technology solutions company, TUSC, will be the keynote speaker.

The Twenty-First Century Scholars Program was conceived by former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh and adopted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1990. It offers low-income, disadvantaged middle and high school students an opportunity to receive a tuition-paid college education if they adhere to a pledge to remain drug, alcohol and crime-free; graduate from an Indiana high school with a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; and apply for college admission and financial aid.

Purdue Calumet is hosting reception program for the 13th consecutive year.

“This recognition is intended to congratulate scholars who have recently enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars Program, as well as encourage those previously enrolled to continue to uphold the pledge and stay focused on their education,” Purdue Calumet Student Support Services Counselor Kimberly Walton-Trajkovski said.

Some 350 Twenty-First Century Scholar graduates attend Purdue Calumet.

Scholars and guests who have yet to RSVP to attend Sunday’s (5/4) event can do so by phoning 219/989-2727 or 800/HI-PURDUE, ext. 2727 by Friday (5/2).

News Release Date: April 29, 2008