TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Ivy Tech Community College announced Wednesday that it will establish a new scholarship program to benefit African-American students at Ivy Tech Terre Haute.
The scholarship, which is being funded by a $200,000 donation from Bob and Terry Bowen of Indianapolis, was previously named the ELEVATE Minority Scholars Achievement Program. It will now be called the Bowen Scholars Program.
Students who receive the scholarship will be provided $2,000 living stipends that are renewable for up to two years. Additionally, those in the program will receive mentoring and support from Ivy Tech faculty and staff.
The Bowens originally funded a similar scholarship on Ivy Tech’s Indianapolis campus, creating a cohort system to help minority students in their studies. After a successful program was established there, the couple said they wanted to expand the scholarship to Terre Haute. They began funding the old ELEVATE program in 2019.
“Everybody counts or nobody counts,” Bob Bowen said. “We want to make a difference by helping our diversity population to realize the American Dream.”
Any student that was formerly or is currently an ELEVATE scholar is now a Bowen Scholar, according to an Ivy Tech news release sent Wednesday. Scholars will continue to meet monthly to listen to guest speakers and discuss campus resources.
“It is through the support and generosity of the Bowen Foundation that our program will continue to foster education and community in our African American students,” Sonja Jordan, Bowen Scholars Program coordinator, said. “Through the program, students are meeting students that look like them. They are forming bonds and building a community.”
The application to apply for a Bowen scholarship has been extended to June 21. To learn more about the scholarship program, apply and view additional Ivy Tech scholarship information, visit their website.
