University chooses 22 new Wells Scholars

Twenty-two students have been named for the current academic year as Wells Scholars, IU's merit-based scholarship program named after late Chancellor Herman B Wells. It ranks among one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships among American universities.\nWells Scholars are awarded with full tuition and fees, as well as a living stipend for four years of undergraduate study through IU-Bloomington. Each year, between 20 and 25 incoming freshmen are chosen, along with one or two current IU students who have displayed exceptional academic achievements, according to the Wells Scholar Web site. Students in the Wells Scholar program generally maintained between a 3.8 and 4.0 grade point average in high school, and scored 1300 or above on the SAT. For incoming freshmen, selections are made based upon nominations sent in by a student's high school. Besides high academic standards, students chosen also have exhibited strong character and leadership throughout their communities.\nFor students undecided on their college choice, discovering they have received the scholarship creates a completely different outlook on their prospective schools.\n"The scholarship did affect my college choice, as I was undecided between IU and Rose Hulman," said freshman Wells Scholar Patrick Milligan. "When I found out that I had gotten the scholarship, I sort of didn't believe it. There were people interviewing for it who seemed much more accomplished and, frankly, more interesting than me, but I am very grateful."\nHowever, some of the recently named students had already picked IU.\n"I want to be a concert violinist, and I was strongly considering IU for the School of Music even before I found out about the Wells program," said freshman Noah Bendix-Balgley.\nAlong with free tuition and fees, recipients also have the option of studying abroad for one of their four years at IU.\n"The Wells Scholarship gives me a lot more opportunities and flexibility in what I study," Bendix-Balgley said. "For example, the opportunity to study abroad for free, probably in Europe, is great, especially for me as a musician."\nA minimum 3.4 GPA and 12 credit hours each semester are required for students to maintain funding. They are also expected to participate in the variety of extracurricular activities. These opportunities allow Wells Scholars to interact informally with IU faculty, distinguished visitors, and other students. In the past, events have included afternoon tea with with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, dinner with Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, and multiple workshops ranging from genetics research to religious liberty, just to mention a few.\nNew Wells Scholars:\n• Erin Aakhus, of Evansville, Ind.\n• Elizabeth Adams, LaPorte, Ind.\n• Noah Bendix-Balgley, Cincinnati, Ohio\n• Vivek Chandrasekhar, Kokomo, Ind.\n• Kathleen Claussen, Bethlehem, Penn.\n• Anshuman Das, Valparaiso, Ind.\n• Julie Jochim, Owensville, Ind.\n• Asma Khalid, Crown Point, Ind.\n• Grace Lin, Indianapolis, Ind.\n• Elizabeth Lewis, Indianapolis, Ind.\n• Brian Matzke, Indianapolis, Ind\n• Emily McFarlin, Indianapolis, Ind.\n• Patrick Milligan, Williamsport, Ind.\n• Sara Phillips, Terre Haute, Ind.\n• Todd Relue, Granger, Ind.\n• Rushi Sheth, Louisville, Ky.\n• Vlad Simianu, Carmel, Ind.\n• Kari Stevenson, Bloomington, Ind.\n• Claire Tramm, Wilmette, Ill.\n• Rose Wongsampigoon, Winnetka, Ill.\n• Micah Zeller, Cincinnati, Ohio