12-08-05

Iowa State University announces new 'Return to Iowa' scholarship program

AMES, Iowa -- Prospective Iowa State freshmen and transfer students who live out of state may qualify for a new, $1,500 renewable scholarship if they have family ties to ISU.

The pilot program is called the "Return to Iowa -- Generations Scholarship," and it will be awarded for the first time in fall 2006. A newly admitted ISU freshman or undergraduate transfer student who lives outside Iowa will receive the scholarship award if he/she:

1. Has a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or grandparent who graduated from Iowa State with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree;
2. Enrolls at ISU as a new, full-time, nonresident undergraduate beginning in summer or fall 2006; and
3. Completes an application form and returns it to ISU's Office of Admissions. The application form is available online at www.admissions.iastate.edu/generations.

"We are delighted the university will be able to offer this award to the children and grandchildren of our out-of-state alumni," said Iowa State University Alumni Association President Jeffery Johnson. "Nonresidents who invest in an Iowa State education pay nearly three times the tuition that Iowans do. We hope this new scholarship helps make that a little easier for out-of-state students to come and enjoy the adventure at Iowa State that their parents and grandparents have shared with them."

The $1,500 annual award is renewable for up to three additional years for freshmen ($6,000 total over four years), or up to two additional years for transfer students ($4,500 total over three years), provided the student maintains continuous, full-time nonresident enrollment with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00. New international undergraduate students also are eligible if they meet the award criteria. The award is disbursed during fall and spring terms only.

"One of Iowa State's strategic priorities is to ensure that the university is a great place to learn and work. I'm excited about the creation of the Generations scholarship, as it supports this priority and the goal of expanding the diversity of people, ideas and cultures," said Marc Harding, ISU's director of enrollment services. "I believe this pilot program will help attract a more geographically diverse student body. Our university community benefits from having students enrolled from all 50 states and more than 110 countries. The scholarship is an incentive for nonresident alumni and their children and grandchildren to strengthen their connection to the state of Iowa and Iowa State University."

For more information, contact Iowa State University's Office of Admissions at (800) 262-3810 (extension 6545) or online at www.admissions.iastate.edu/generations.

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