Indiana State University has named three incoming first-year students recipients of the Gongaware Scholarship.
Students Kassie Jo Grooms of Marshall, Ill., Patrick Landwehr II of Chesterfield, Mo., and Brandon Nettrouer of South Whitley are this year's recipients. The scholarship award is full in-state tuition as well as a $3,000 professional development account. Scholars can use the professional development account to study abroad, attend a professional conference or complete an internship. The scholarship is renewable for three years and is for students planning to major in insurance and risk management or financial services.
"The program is a tremendous opportunity for students to develop as professionals by participating in professional conferences, internships, workshops and events hosted by the center," said Rebecca Wray, interim director of the Gongaware Center in the Scott College of Business at ISU. "Graduates of the program enjoy 100 percent job placement and are well-prepared to have successful careers in the insurance and risk management and financial services industry."
Grooms, who is the daughter of Kenneth and Elizabeth Grooms, was a National Honor Society member and varsity captain of her softball and volleyball teams. She was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, and served as secretary of her high school's international club and was the vice president of her class for three years. She received the Future Business Leaders of America student of the month award and was named the Marshall Advocate athlete of the week in softball.
Landwehr, who is the son of Patrick and Christine Landwehr, was a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta honor society. He played soccer and was also a captain of the volleyball team and served as the secretary of the Future Career Community Leaders of America club. He received his high school's scholar athlete honor award multiple times and received the Longhorn Pride Award for leadership and respect in the classroom.
Nettrouer, son of Brian and Rhonda Nettrouer, was a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) for four years and Whitley County Youth Leadership, which included a survey project on graduation rate improvement that was presented to the local school board. He also was a member of his high school's Spanish Club, as well as the school's track, baseball and football teams. He earned Three Rivers Conference Academic All-Conference honors multiple times from 2010 to 2012.
"The incoming Gongaware Scholars are very accomplished students who excelled as leaders in high school," Wray said. "They have a variety of experiences that will serve them well in the program, which will also benefit from the perspectives the new scholars will bring. We look forward to having them join us in August."
The Gongaware Scholarship was established in 1999 with a $5 million gift from Don and Patricia Gongaware. Don Gongaware is a retired senior executive at Conseco Inc.
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Gongaware-Scholars-2012/i-HC7g4gp/0/L/groomskassie-0052-L.jpg Kassie Jo Grooms
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Gongaware-Scholars-2012/i-FW6dmzh/0/L/Landwehrpatrick-0060-L.jpg Patrick Landwehr II
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Gongaware-Scholars-2012/i-fdGfk5c/0/L/nettrouerbrandon-0112-L.jpg Brandon Nettrouer
Contact: Rebecca Wray, interim director, The Gongaware Center, Scott College of Business, Indiana State University, 812-237-8924 or rebecca.wray@indstate.edu
Writer: Austin Arceo, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or austin.arceo-negrich@indstate.edu