Seven incoming first-year Vanderbilt University students have been named to the newest class of the Ingram Scholars Program. They were selected from nearly 1,000 students for the signature and highly competitive Vanderbilt program.
Members of the Ingram Scholars Class of 2025 are:
- Charu Balamurugan of Los Angeles, California
- Emily Chang of Valencia, California
- Max Coppola of Oceanside, New York
- Grace Jones of Irvine, California
- Rushikesh Manche of Bridgewater, New Jersey
- Hanna Testa of Cumming, Georgia
- Kyle Vallone of Trabuco Canyon, California
“We are simply thrilled to welcome such an accomplished and committed cohort of new Ingram Scholars,” said Brian L. Heuser, faculty director of the Ingram Scholars Program and associate professor of the practice of international education policy at Peabody College. “Now, more than ever, the world needs brilliant young determined minds to solve our most-pressing problems. These newest members of the scholars program represent our collective future.”
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 encourage students to combine a professional career with a commitment to community service and giving. From that first class of four undergraduates and two incoming first-year students, the program has grown to more than 300 current students and alumni who have been awarded the Ingram Scholarship since 1994.
Ingram Scholars engage in 16 hours of civic and community service each month and also design and implement projects that address significant societal challenges. The program encourages the scholars to create service projects that become self-sustaining. Ingram Scholars are awarded a full-tuition scholarship for four years plus a stipend for a summer project.
For more information, visit the Ingram Scholars Program website.