FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2007
Old National Bank Foundation Gives $250,000 for 21st Century Scholars
Five students in the 21st Century Scholars program will get additional help attending the University of Evansville next year, thanks to a new scholarship program created by a $250,000 gift from the Old National Bank Foundation.
For the next five years, the Old National Bank Foundation will give $50,000 per year to UE, for use both in construction of the new Dr. William L. Ridgway University Center, and in creating new diversity initiatives at the University. The $150,000 dedicated to diversity will fund five renewable scholarships at $3,000 per year each, and will create both the Old National Bank Foundation Summer Academy and the Old National Bank Foundation Diversity Incentive Fund.
"We are most appreciative of the Old National Bank Foundation's generosity," said Robiaun Charles, UE's assistant to the president and director of Diversity Initiatives. "These diversity initiatives will serve to enhance the recruitment, retention and graduation of under-represented and socio-economically disadvantaged students, as well as to strengthen the cultural awareness and competency of the greater UE community."
The first of three diversity initiatives will begin in the summer of 2008 with the Old National Bank Foundation Summer Academy. Twenty-First Century Scholars from across Indiana who are entering grades 10-12 will be invited to the UE campus for a residential college-preparatory experience.
The five renewable Old National Bank Foundation scholarships comprise the second new diversity initiative, aimed at helping 21st Century Scholars with non-tuition related expenses. First priority for these scholarships will go to those Scholars who are freshmen, minorities, and majoring in Business.
And the final new diversity initiative will create the Old National Bank Foundation Diversity Incentive Fund, aimed at increasing diversity programming on the UE campus. The fund will encourage UE faculty, administrators, staff and students to create new opportunities for interaction and cross-cultural engagement through innovative diversity programs and activities.
That fund will receive $7,500 per year, with $15,000 per year going toward the Academy, and another $15,000 toward scholarships.
"Old National Bank is proud to expand our partnership with the University of Evansville to encourage and celebrate inclusive initiatives that will allow our youth to attain academic excellence," comments Janet Heldt, Old National Bancorp's director of Diversity and Worklife Development/Foundation.
The remaining funds — a total of $100,000 over the five year period — will go toward the new Dr. William L. Ridgway University Center.
For more information, contact UE News Director Joe Atkinson at (812) 488-2562.
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