Indiana State University Newsroom

Three incoming freshmen have been named recipients of the 2011-2012 Gongaware Scholarship at Indiana State University.

The students, Christena Hoopingarner of Columbia City, Ind., Chad Greene of Georgetown, Ill., and Swapna Namburi of Terre Haute will receive the scholarship, which includes $6,500 per year for college costs as well as a $3,000 professional development account. The scholarship is renewable for three years and is for students planning to major in financial services or insurance and risk management.

"These three award recipients are students who have very high potential to succeed," said Terrie Troxel, executive director of the Gongaware Center in the Scott College of Business at ISU.

Hoopingarner, who is the daughter of Steve and Darcy Hoopingarner, graduated from Whitko High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society and received academic all-conference honors in cross-country, basketball and track. She was a four-year member of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the student council, and she participated in many other activities.

Greene is the son of Scott and Stacey Greene. He graduated from Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was also a member of the high school golf team, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and several other organizations, and was a recipient of the academic award from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

Namburi, daughter of Krishna and Aruna Namburi, graduated from Terre Haute South Vigo High School. She was a National Honor Society member and she was president elect of DECA. She won several awards in DECA district competitions, and she won first place in a state competition of DECA. She was a member of the class senate, and also served as class treasurer.

Classes of Gongaware Scholars range from two to five students, with most classes typically having three scholars, Troxel said. More than 120 students applied for the 2011-2012 award. The selection process included the students' high school grade point averages, college entrance exam scores, with several rounds of interviews factored into the final decisions.
Gongaware Scholars who graduate from ISU have experienced 100 percent job placement, which Troxel said received attention from many scholarship applicants.

"The scholars have all been very successful," Troxel said. "It has been a tremendous program for taking high potential incoming students and developing them for their professional careers."

The Gongaware Scholarship was established in 1999 with contributions from Don and Patricia Gongaware. Don Gongaware is a retired senior executive at Conseco Inc.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1194193021_T76J6-L.jpg
Christena Hoopingarner

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1194192872_eagHM-L.jpg
Chad Greene

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/1194193281_KCH6Y-L.jpg
Swapna Namburi

Contact: Terrie Troxel, executive director, Gongaware Center, Scott College of Business, Indiana State University, 812-237-2028 or Terrie.Troxel@indstate.edu.

Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu.