Indiana State University Newsroom

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Twenty students have been awarded Indiana State University's most prestigious scholarship - the President's Scholarship.

President's Scholars must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 scale and a combined critical reading and math score of 1100 on the SAT or a composite score of 24 on the ACT. Selection is highly competitive and based upon both academic and personal accomplishments, and an interview is required for all finalists. The current value of these scholarships for students is $15,000 annually.

This year's President's Scholar recipients include (see background on each recipient below): Carly Anderson, Fort Wayne; Anna Buck, Noblesville; Renee Buettner, Belleville, Ill.; Wade Bush, Terre Haute; Lucas Eitel, Marshall, Ill.; Katie Ellingsworth, West Terre Haute; Andrew Graman, Bruceville; Rachel Hand, Milan; Derek Hennig, Charleston, Ill.; Michael Hickox, Casey, Ill.; Nathan Hinote, Cayuga; Kasey Kahle, Fort Branch; Melanie Mivshek, Wadsworth, Ill.; Cody Prickett, Indianapolis; Richard Rosales, Clayton; Lauren Smith, Anderson; Cortni Townsend, Makanda, Ill.; Nicholas Utterback, Terre Haute; Sarah Wachala, Munster; and Megan Whitacre, Paris, Ill.

Since the program began in 1994, those students who have been named President's Scholars have distinguished themselves in unique and successful ways at Indiana State, at graduate schools across the country, and in their subsequent careers.

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Carly Anderson, daughter of Lana and Gary Anderson of Fort Wayne, is a graduate of Homestead High School and plans to major in elementary education. During high school she was involved in National Honor Society, tutoring, served as a Sunday school teacher, telethon volunteer and an elementary classroom volunteer. She was the recipient of the Homestead Biology Award, given to students in the top 10 percent of that subject.

Anna Buck, daughter of Jeff and Julie Buck of Noblesville, is a graduate of Noblesville High School and plans to major in music education. During high school she was involved in the improvisational acting team, show choir, National Honor Society, fall musical, Community Theater, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served as a Miller Kick-off Mentor.

Renee Buettner, daughter of Brian and Denise Buettner of Belleville, Ill., is a graduate of Althoff Catholic High School and plans to major in nursing. During high school she was involved in show choir, concert band, drama club, French Club, Student Ambassadors, science club, National Honor Society, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Saturday Scholars, pep band and jazz band. She was in the top 10 percent of her graduating class and was a Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Year.

Wade Bush, son of Joseph and Becky Bush of Terre Haute, is a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School. He plans to major in accounting. During high school, Bush played baseball, basketball, football and soccer in addition to his involvement in Student Council, Counterpoints, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Link Crew, Continentals, Key Club, Youth Leadership of Terre Haute, and National Honor Society. He also participated in volunteer activities at the Boys and Girls Club, Lighthouse Mission, YMCA/YWCA and going on a mission trip to Mexico. Bush has received numerous athletic awards, and was nominated for the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award.

Lucas Eitel, son of Fred and Janet Eitel of Marshall, Ill., is a graduate of Marshall High School. He plans to major in business. During high school, Eitel played baseball, basketball, golf and tennis and was involved in National Honor Society, science club, Spanish Club, and Interact. He has received numerous athletic awards and was selected as an Illinois State Scholar.

Katie Ellingsworth, daughter of Teresa Maher and Jerome Ellingsworth, is a graduate of West Vigo High School. She plans to major in elementary education. During high school, she participated in the Link Crew, National Honor Society, student council, Youth Leadership Terre Haute, and Go Make a Difference Committee and volunteered at Lighthouse Mission. She has received various awards and honors, including being named class valedictorian, fall homecoming queen, earning a varsity letter in swimming and have artwork exhibited at the Swope Art Museum.

Andrew Graman, the son of J.D. and Christina Graman of Bruceville, is a graduate of North Knox High School. He plans to major in insurance and risk management and mathematics. During high school, Graman played varsity soccer and baseball and was involved in National Honor Society, student council, Principal's Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and academic math team. He has received numerous awards, including an academic letter, earning varsity letters in baseball and soccer and earning academic all state honors in soccer for two years.

Rachel Hand, daughter of Eric and Rebecca Hand of Milan, is a graduate of Milan High School. She plans to major in speech-language pathology. During high school, Hand participated in band, choir, 4-H, Community Theater, National Honor Society, worked as a volunteer at the Milan Food Pantry, participated in tutoring and mentoring and sang the national anthem at school activities and games. She has received various awards and honors, including awards at district and state instrumental solo contests and being a finalist in the Daughters of the American Revolution history essay contest.

Derek Hennig, son of Doug and Mary Hennig of Charleston Ill., is a graduate of Charleston High School. He plans to major in biology and pre-optometry, with hopes of becoming an optometrist. During high school Hennig participated in baseball, basketball, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Principal's Advisory Council. His honors and awards include being named an Illinois State Scholar and earning varsity letters in baseball and basketball.

Michael Hickox, the son of David and Jan Hickox of Casey, Ill., is a graduate of Casey-Westfield High School and plans to major in finance or business administration. During high school, he participated in drama club, scholastic bowl, choir, Eco Team, yearbook staff, National Honor Society and International Thespian Society.

Nathan Hinote, son of George and Kenna Hinote of Cayuga, is a graduate of North Vermillion Jr./Sr. High School. He plans to major in business. During high school, Hinote participated in National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, president of the Vermillion County Skateboard Park Committee, edited video for instructional purposes and earned a varsity letter in wrestling in addition to an academic letter jacket.

Kasey Kahle, daughter of Ronnie and Glenda Kahle of Fort Branch, is a graduate of Gibson Southern High School. She plans to major in math education and sports medicine in hopes of teaching math and working as a coach or trainer on the high school level. During high school, she was involved in marching band, Sunshine Society, Girl Scouts, Beta Club, Student Council, Indiana-Kentucky Conference Youth Board in addition to playing basketball, volleyball and participating in track and field. Her numerous honors and awards include being a Wendy's High School Heisman state finalist, going to the state Spell Bowl, being a math team state finalist, being a track and field discus state finalist and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.

Melanie Mivshek, daughter of Barbara and Darrell Mivshek of Wadsworth, Ill., is a graduate of Zion-Benton Township High School and plans to major in psychology and business. During high school she was involved in Key Club, National Honor Society, marching band, pep band, softball and volleyball and served as a manager for the wrestling team. She has earned Illinois math league recognition, named to the All-Academic team for the North Suburban Athletic Conference, earned all-conference honorable mention in volleyball and softball and was an academic team captain.

Cody Prickett, the son of David and Melanie Prickett of Indianapolis, is a graduate of Southport High School. He plans on majoring in pre-medicine, in hopes of pursuing a career in anesthesiology. During high school, Prickett was involved in National Honor Society, Green Earth Society, Spell Bowl, freshman mentoring program, Cardinal Cadre and played tennis. He was a recipient of a Bausch & Lomb Science Award.

Richard Rosales, son of Randy and Starr Rosales of Clayton, is a graduate of Cascade High School and plans to major in biology and pre-medicine. During high school, Rosales participated in National Honor Society, band, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Principal's Leadership Council, Knowledge Masters, volunteered at Hendricks Regional Health, served as a Cadet kick-off mentor, participated in Cadet Optimist cemetery restoration, and ran cross country and track. His numerous honors and awards include earning an academic all-conference varsity letter in cross country and track and serving as senior class president.

Lauren Smith, the daughter of Kirsten and Jason Smith of Anderson, is a graduate of Frankton High School. She plans on majoring in chemistry and pre-medicine, in hopes of becoming a physician and returning to her hometown to practice. During high school, she participated in Spanish Club, National Honor Society, was a member of the band and color guard, 4-H, Spanish Honor Society, Young Democrats, worked on the school newspaper and yearbook and volunteered at Community Hospital.

Cortni Townsend, daughter of Greg and Karen Dunn of Mankanda, Ill., is a graduate of Carbondale Community High School. She plans to major in accounting. During high school, she was president of Student Senate, participated in Scholar Bowl, German Club, history club, National Honor Society and was named to high honor roll all four years.

Nicholas Utterback, son of Paul Utterback and Tarita Lough of Terre Haute, is a graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School and plans to major in elementary education. During high school, he participated in National Honor Society, class senate, Link Crew, Thespians, Continentals, Fraternity of Highest Excellence, Madrigals, Counterpoints, was a member of the Homecoming court, played intramural basketball, participated in peer tutoring and was a member of the Indiana choir that performed at the National Cathedral. His numerous honors and awards include being named junior and senior class president, serving as vice president of Key Club, a Hoosier Boys State finalist, and a finalist for the Daughters of the American Revolution award.

Sarah Wachala, daughter of Michael and Carol Wachala of Munster, is a graduate of Munster High School. She plans to major in social science education, in hopes of becoming a secondary social science teacher and eventually pursuing a law degree. While in high school Wachala participated in Project X, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, DECA, speech and debate club, served as a reading tutor at Kumon Center, was a member of the girl's junior varsity soccer team while working as a senior manager of a movie theater. Her numerous honors and awards include earning second place at the state level DECA competition, placing second in the travel and tourism management team at DECA district contest and receiving the scholar athlete award.

Megan Whitacre, daughter of Jerry and Martha Whitacre of Paris, Ill., is a graduate of Paris High School and plans to major in athletic training. While in high school Whitacre participated in Student Council, National Honor Society, Key Club, Spanish club, served as a class officer, tutored and mentored students, and was a member of 4-H. She served as the Red Cross blood drive chairman, worked as a YMCA little league referee and football statistician. Her numerous honors and awards include being named an alternate to Illini Girls State, most valuable player in girls golf, a nominee to the IHSA All-Academic Team and a recipient of the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award.

Deadline for admission for the next class of President's Scholars is December 1, 2009. Students graduating from high school in 2010 will be eligible to apply and be considered for the next class. For an application or more information, contact ISU's Office of Admissions at 1-800-GO-TO-ISU or e-mail admissions@indstate.edu .

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CONTACT: Office of Admissions, Indiana State University, 1-800-GO-TO-ISU or admissions@indstate.edu

WRITER: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, (812) 237-3783 or pmeyer4@isugw.indstate.edu