Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora has been honored for her decision to create a scholarship fund in lieu of holding a formal inauguration ceremony and her support of the university's Building Better Communities initiative.

Gora was one of eight women to receive a Vivian Conley Award from the Coalition of Women's Organizations of Delaware County during its annual celebration of Women's Equality Day. In presenting the award, Fred Meyer, chair of the Indiana Women of Achievement Awards committee and a political science professor at Ball State, said Gora's decision to create the Inauguration Scholarship was reflective of Vivian Conley's commitment to making education accessible to as many students as possible.

"The selection committee for this award was particularly impressed by this brilliant decision," Meyer said. "Vivian Conley would have applauded the decision."

The award honors the memory of Conley, who began taking courses at Ball State at the age of 60. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in gerontology. During her time at the university, she founded the Non-Traditional Student Association and was a tireless advocate for her fellow students. Conley's promotion of higher education is credited with bringing 185 students to Ball State.

Gora launched the Inauguration Scholarship Fund in January 2005, saying the decision to offer academic opportunities to high-achieving Hoosier students rather than hold an on-campus ceremony reflected Ball State's student-centered mission. In addition, the timing for such a move seemed right, given the state's economic difficulties and the university's efforts to stretch its resources as far as possible.

Ball State created the fund with $150,000 in direct and indirect savings it realized by not holding an inauguration. Initially, the university hoped 15 benefactors would each pledge a $10,000 "Medallion" gift, allowing the university to offer 15 Inauguration Scholarships. But the university received 25 Medallion gifts, named for the medallion bestowed on the president during an inauguration ceremony, and the scholarships were presented to the students March 29, 2005, during a Statehouse ceremony attended by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

"From everything I have heard, Vivian Conley was someone to emulate," Gora said. "I am honored to receive this award that bears her name because she had such passion for education and demonstrated it in her pursuit of two degrees and her advocacy on behalf of other students."

Meyer said Gora's selection also served as recognition for her support of the university's Building Better Communities initiative, which is designed to spur economic development and quality-of-life advancement in Indiana by extending Ball State's strengths in applied research and hands-on learning to community projects across the state.

(Note to Editors: For more information on this story, contact Meyer at (765) 285-8794 or fmeyers@bsu.edu.)