Fourteen incoming freshmen have been chosen as the newest members of the Ingram Scholarship program. The 14 are among more than 700 high school seniors who applied, the largest number of applicants in the scholarship program’s 14-year history.
Members of the new class are Chandler Anthony of Ridgeland, Miss.; Mick Chaudhary of Alpharetta, Ga.; Wayne Dell of Pensacola, Fla.; Ethan Fedida of Armonk, N.Y.; Richard Gallant of Chesterfield, Mo.; Abby Hannifan of Leawood, Kan.; Niha Jain of Shreveport, La.; Vasanthan Kuppuswamy of Mt.
Pleasant, S.C.; Emilio Lopez of South Miami, Fla.; Evin McMullen of Chesterland, Ohio; Melissa Oppenheim of South Ranches, Fla.; Sara Plana of Oakland Park, Fla.; Michelle Spada of Eagleville, Pa.; and Travis Westbrook of Centralia, Ill.
They will join the more than 130 Vanderbilt students and alumni who have been awarded the Ingram Scholarship since 1994. From that first class of four undergraduates and two incoming freshmen, the program has grown to include approximately 50 Ingram Scholars attending the university at the same time.
The program was conceived in 1993 by E. Bronson Ingram, president of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust from 1991 until his death in 1995, as a way to reward outstanding students with a commitment to volunteerism and community service.
Ingram Scholars are required not only to volunteer for community service but also to design and implement projects that address significant community needs. The program encourages Ingram Scholars to work with established not-for-profit groups and to create projects that become self-sustaining.
Each scholar participates in community service projects at least 20 hours each month during the school year and during at least one of their undergraduate summers.
Each Ingram Scholar receives a minimum of full-tuition, a stipend for a special summer project and a project expense budget. In cases of demonstrated need, additional financial aid may be provided.
Media contact: Elizabeth Latt , (615) 322-NEWS
elizabeth.p.latt@vanderbilt.edu