Source: Lynda Spire, 785-532-2568, lspire@k-state.edu
Hometown connection: McPherson,Topeka and Wichita, Kan.;Farmington, N.M.; and Seattle, Wash.
Website: http://www.dce.k-state.edu/students/services/financial-aid
News release prepared by: Rosanna Vail, 785-532-2720, rvail@k-state.edu
Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012
Long-distance scholars: Recipients of O'Bannon, diversity scholarships earning their degrees from across the nation and around the world
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is going the distance for students earning their degrees through distance education by providing scholarships especially for them.
Five students are receiving the Division of Continuing Education's O'Bannon Scholarship for spring 2012, and two students are recipients of the first Office of Diversity Scholarship for Distance Students. Both scholarships provide $1,000 for a semester of study.
The Diversity Scholarship, offered for the first time through support from the university's office of diversity, is awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in the bachelor's degree completion program.
"We're thrilled to award this scholarship to two of our distance students," said Lynda Spire, assistant dean of continuing education. "Scholarships specifically geared toward distance students are harder to come by, and they play a crucial role in helping these students continue their education while balancing other financial commitments."
The O'Bannon Scholarship, offered twice each year, provides financial aid to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the division's distance degree programs. The scholarship honors the memory of K-State alum Maurine Allison O'Bannon, class of 1915, from McPherson, Kan.
Distance education scholarship recipients include:
From Topeka: Amy R. Buscher, senior in dietetics, O'Bannon Scholarship; and Heather M. Kahre, junior in family studies and human services, O'Bannon Scholarship.
Kristine T. Nguyen, senior in dietetics, Wichita, Diversity Scholarship.
From out of state: Erica M. Baker, master's student in youth development, Farmington, N.M., O'Bannon Scholarship; and Kristina Cale, junior in dietetics, Seattle, Wash., Diversity Scholarship and O'Bannon Scholarship.
From out of country: Tonia H. Chantry, master's student in academic advising, Okinawa, Japan, O'Bannon Scholarship.
The application deadline for the fall 2012 O'Bannon Scholarship is Aug. 1. Application guidelines and more financial aid and scholarship opportunities for distance students are available at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/students/services/financial-aid.
