Gov. Mitch Daniels joined Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora today at the Indiana Statehouse to congratulate 25 Indiana high school seniors chosen to receive scholarships partially funded with money the university saved by forgoing a formal inauguration ceremony.

Only about the top 200 most academically qualified applicants from Indiana were invited to apply for an Inauguration Scholarship, and far fewer made it to final consideration, Gora said.

"This award is among our most prestigious and competitive scholarships," she told the recipients. "With perfect and near-perfect GPAs, an average SAT score for the group of 1326 and a number of scores in the 1400s, you are truly some of the best and brightest."

Daniels commended President Gora and Ball State for helping ensure that talented students like these stay in Indiana to pursue their college dreams.

"These outstanding Hoosier seniors who want to pursue their dreams of a college education will be doing that right here in Indiana," said Governor Daniels. "President Gora and Ball State have shown imagination and commitment to give these young men and women financial assistance to pursue their degree."

When Gora launched the Inauguration Scholarship Fund in January, she said 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.

"Imagine my delight when just a few weeks after announcing our plans we already had more individuals stepping forward than we had ever anticipated," Gora said. "I think that's a testament to the power of the right idea at the right time, but it's also a testament to the loyalty of our alumni and friends, and what they value."

The Statehouse event also marked Gora's official installation as Ball State's 14th president. Thomas DeWeese, president of the university's board of trustees, said he and the other trustees had faith that Gora's experience, energy, intelligence and enthusiasm would help the university realize its potential.

"Today reflects the generous spirit and bold thinking of Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora," he said. "And despite the departure from tradition, today is an inauguration. But rather than an inauguration of a single individual, it is an inauguration of the future, a looking forward for these students and for Ball State University."

Gora suggested the recipients were receiving a much larger gift than the scholarship: the gift of education. She suggested they could say "thank you" by passing on the gift of education. The specifics of how they do that aren't important, but what matters is helping someone learn and grow in new and exciting ways, she said.

"Let's all leave here today looking for ways to pay it forward, whether big or small, and commit to working together for the success of all our students, for the betterment of the state of Indiana and for a brighter future for Ball State University," Gora said.

Each student will also receive a Ball State Presidential Scholarship, and the combination of scholarships will have a value in excess of $32,000. The names of the Inauguration Scholars, listed with their hometowns and high schools are:

• Courtnie Armbruster, Avon, Avon High School
• Scott Budnick, Bloomington, Bloomington North High School
• Jasmyn Burton, Fort Wayne, Homestead High School
• Kasey Butcher, Fort Wayne, Homestead High School
• Ashley Campbell, Indianapolis, Southport High School
• Bingbing Chu, Muncie, Muncie Central High School
• Craig Furnivall, Rochester, Rochester High School
• Lucy Giraldo, Fort Wayne, Bishop Dwenger High School
• Daniel Guillaud, Muncie, Yorktown High School
• Claire List, Leesburg, Wawasee High School
• Jennifer Millikan, Carmel, Carmel High School
• Cody Nicoletti, Brazil, Northview High School
• Steven Penzenik, South Bend, Clay High School
• Sean Rasmussen, Monticello, Twin Lakes High School
• Jon Ravenscroft, Wabash, Southwood Junior/Senior High School
• Anthony Rizzie, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern High School
• Amanda Sabo, Indianapolis, Warren Central High School
• Jessica Shafran, Columbus, Columbus North High School
• Jason Shupryt, Dyer, Lake Central High School
• Adair Staicer, Madison, Madison Consolidated High School
• Aimee Sunny, Lowell, Lowell Senior High School
• Michelle Wafford, Indianapolis, North Central High School
• Christine Welage, Greenfield, Cathedral High School, Indianapolis
• W. Tyler Whitehead, Bloomington, Bloomington South High School
• Jennifer Wright, Terre Haute, South Vigo High School