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Marian University to offer 50 new scholarships in response to pandemic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Marian University is turning to donors and alumni to fund 50 new full-time scholarships. The move is in response to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The scholarships will be for incoming freshmen this fall who are 21st Century Scholars and there are 50 full scholarships up for grabs. In order to make it happen, the university will need to raise a total of $5 million.

Marian University President Daniel Elsener said they are well on their way to reaching that goal. Since launching the campaign about a month ago, alumni, friends and foundations have already contributed.

Elsener said the idea came after he and university staff recognized a need among potential students. In some cases, the potential student may have lost their job or their parents may have been laid off, making it difficult to attend college in the fall, but he wants students who have big dreams to be able to start college right away.

“We’re looking for students who want to make a difference in the world and want to be a leader. Want to be great teachers, and nurses, business leaders and go on to do great things and when we see a glimmer, a vision for a big future, and hard-working student with some grit, we’ll pour a resource in them, because we find the return is so high,” Elsener said.

The new scholarships provided by Marian University, along with Pell Grants and state 21st Century Scholar funding, will ensure four-year full-tuition scholarships for students who keep their grades up and attend classes regularly. Elsener said supporting 50 new students in this way will have a ripple effect for years to come.

“It never quits and think about their families that they’ll create and set a standard of going to college and being successful. It does start a wave and that wave will move in perpetuity, so it’s rare that you can make an investment like that,” Elsener said.

Marian University is the only Catholic university in central Indiana and serves about 4,000 students each year.

The university says interest in the scholarships is high and they will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students who want to apply for the new scholarships should contact the admissions office as soon as possible.