Topics: Scholarships, Miller College of Business

March 28, 2011

A Ball State University junior is one of only two recipients of a major national information technology scholarship.

Patrick Sager, a junior information systems major from Anderson, has received the Kevin Jetton Service Scholarship. The award is given annually to support university students who are seeking an education in an accredited degree program related to information technology. Candidates are evaluated by the Foundation for Information Technology Education (FITE) with a focus on demonstrated scholastic achievement, service, leadership and quality of the application.

Kevin Jetton, creator of the scholarship, has provided dedicated and energetic service to the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) for many years, serving as president of his Texas-based chapter and as the national president of AITP. Since 1996, he has been the driving force behind the AITP National Collegiate Conference.

"This particular award is among the most prestigious in AITP because it isn't just about good grades — it is about commitment, leadership and service as well," said Larry Schmitz, president of AITP's Region 5, of which Ball State is included.

Scholarship applicants were required to be active members of student chapter of AITP. Sager was a member of the Ball State AITP chapter and was president from 2009-2010.

During his presidency, the Ball State chapter received the AITP Student Chapter Outstanding Performance Award (SCPA) in 2010. The SCPA is awarded annually to the chapters that show the best performance for the previous year. Out of 292 student chapters nationwide, only eight chapters received SCPAs in 2009-2010, placing the Ball State student chapter in the top 3 percent nationwide.

The SCPA is based on characteristics including consistency in chapter operations, chapter member educational opportunities, consistency and quality of chapter meetings, chapter leadership, fundraising, community involvement, extracurricular activities of members in the information technology field and participation in AITP-sponsored events.

Sager also was one of only eight students nationwide invited to serve on the Student Leadership Council for AITP from 2010-2012. The group represents all student chapters at a national level and meets annually to discuss policies and activities for student chapters.

"Patrick has taken the initiative to build his knowledge and experience by taking advantage of all we have to offer in the information systems major and in the Miller College of Business at Ball State," said Fred Kitchens, associate professor of information systems. "He will have an outstanding resume by the time he graduates."

For more information about the Kevin Jetton Service Scholarship, visit www.edfoundation.org/kevinjettonscholarship.htm. For more information about AITP visit www.aitp.org.

By Chanel Richards