INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — As Hoosier families continue to be hit by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marian University is easing the burden for some high school seniors.
The university will award 50 full-tuition scholarships to high school seniors who are part of Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program and enroll at the school for the 2020-21 academic school year.
Students with a high GPA who apply for the scholarships quickly will be top priority to receive the scholarships. The university committed an additional $5 million in scholarship support — pulling donations from alumni, friends and foundations — to fund the new initiative.
Those donations, in addition to Pell Grants and 21st Century Scholar funding, will ensure tuition for four years of full-time enrollment are covered for recipients who remain in good academic standing.
"In keeping with our vision as a leadership institution, our vocational calling and values, and our track record of attracting, retaining, and, most importantly, graduating a significant number of students from these middle- and lower-income households, Marian University is compelled to take action and offer assistance to those who have been financially impacted by the pandemic and resulting economic downturn," Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener said in a press release.
Students in the 21st Century Scholars program enroll in seventh or eighth grade and must meet income eligibility requirements. To stay in the program throughout high school, they must maintain academic standards.
