• Maintains Dr. Gora's pledge to put students first
• Resources allocated for the pomp and circumstance of an inauguration would not be the most efficient use of university funds (estimated at $150,000)
• New scholarships provide additional opportunities for Hoosiers, assisting outstanding students in fulfilling their dreams

Inauguration Scholarship details

• 15 $20,000 scholarships to be awarded in initial round
• Renewable for eight semesters ($2,500 per semester) with maintenance of 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Scholarship may be used for any educational expenses (the award is not designated for tuition only)
• Recipients will receive the Inauguration Scholarship in addition to a Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded to select students admitted to Honors College and which covers one half of tuition (currently $5,752 per year for in-state students)
• Combined Inauguration and Presidential Scholarships will cover nearly two-thirds of in-state Ball State educational expenses including tuition, fixed fees, and room and board
• Currently a one-time scholarship program for selected students beginning in the 2005 academic year

Eligibility

• Limited to Indiana residents
• High-ability students invited to apply for Ball State's prestigious Whitinger Scholars program
• Application process includes an essay and interview by selection committee

Ball State general financial aid information

• University distributes about $153 million annually in financial aid to about 80 percent of its 18,000 students. Includes Pell Grants, state government grants, university-funded scholarships and federal work-study assistance
• Ball State will award $2.6 million in institutional need-based financial aid in 2005-06 to about 2,000 Indiana students
• Ball State has steadily increased its need-based institutional financial aid from $60,000 in 2001-02 to its current level, helping ensure access for all academically qualified students who wish to attend the university

Inauguration Scholarship Fund details

• Fund was established by Ball State with $150,000 in direct and indirect cost savings reaped by forgoing a traditional inauguration ceremony
• Ball State has been seeking 15 Medallion Benefactors — named in honor of the medallion traditionally bestowed on the president at the inauguration — to match Ball State's contribution and bring the fund to an initial $300,000; to date, the university has received 11 such commitments
• The university will appeal to its broad base of friends and alumni to join in the celebration by contributing to the Inauguration Scholarship Fund at any level. Through this effort, Ball State hopes to surpass the initial fund goal and offer additional Inauguration Scholarships to future students