21 students named Wells Scholars at Indiana University

  • Aug. 23, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editors: Biographies for each of the 2016 Wells Scholars are available online.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University has selected 19 freshmen and two seniors for the 27th class of Herman B Wells Scholars. Since 1990, nearly 560 students have received Wells Scholars Program scholarships to support their undergraduate education at IU Bloomington.

The scholarship, created in honor of the late IU Chancellor Herman B Wells, ranks among the most competitive and prestigious awards offered by any American university. Wells Scholars have gone on to win more than 80 national and international scholarships, fellowships and grants, such as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Soros, Mitchell, Churchill, Gates Cambridge, Hertz, Luce, Beinecke, Fulbright and Goldwater.

On his 90th birthday, Wells was officially presented with the prestigious scholarship program as a gift from his many friends and admirers. Since his death in the spring of 2000, this community of talented and dedicated young scholars has remained a permanent legacy of his educational vision.

“We are delighted to welcome the newest Wells Scholars who bring their intelligence, talents, creativity and leadership to IU,” said Christoph Irmscher, Provost Professor of English at IU and the George F. Getz Jr. Professor in the Wells Scholars Program. “The program’s current students and alumni help to realize the dreams Chancellor Wells held for IU and its positive impact on our greater society.”

Incoming freshman Wells Scholars receive the full cost of attendance at IU for four years of undergraduate study on the Bloomington campus. Scholars may choose to spend up to one of those years studying abroad. Newly named recipients who are already students at IU receive tuition, fees and a stipend for their remaining undergraduate years. Wells Scholars hold named scholarships within the program that honor donors or those designated by donors.

The Wells program also offers special seminars; support for a summer research or service project, creative activity or internship; and a wide range of extracurricular events and activities. It emphasizes close interaction with faculty, academic and career advising, opportunities for public service, and contact with distinguished visitors.

This year, IU and Wells Scholar alumna Marion Werkheiser has been named the Wells Scholars Program Professor for 2017. Werkheiser is managing member of Cultural Heritage Partners in Washington D.C., and is a globally known expert in the field of the protections of historic and cultural resources, including tribal artifacts. As Wells Scholars Program Professor, she will teach an anthropology course for Wells Scholars during the spring semester.

The 19 new Wells Scholars and their hometowns are:

  • Ebenezer Appiah, Gary, Ind.
  • Cilka "Cecilia" Brisuda, Bloomington, Ind.
  • Jay Chopra, Schererville, Ind.
  • Lauren Ehrmann, Frankfort, Ind.
  • Corina Greiner, Nashville, Ind.
  • Andrew Coleton Hast, Indianapolis
  • Hannah Huth, Brentwood, Tenn.
  • Victoria Kvitek, Carmel, Calif.
  • Emily Leung, Nedlands, Australia
  • Lauren Meadows, Fishers, Ind.
  • Kaleb Mount, Scottsburg, Ind.
  • Athena Nagel, Danville, Ind.
  • Kendra Obermaier, Indianapolis
  • Damon Pham, Fremont, Calif.
  • Neil Shah, Carmel, Ind.
  • Neha Srinivasan, Louisville, Ky.
  • Thomas Sweeny, Indianapolis
  • Thalia Taylor, Chicago
  • Tiffany Xie, Carmel, Ind.

The two senior Wells Scholars and their hometowns are:

  • Hendrik Glauninger, Carmel, Ind.
  • Claire Repsholdt, Mundelein, Ill.

Freshman Wells Scholars are nominated by their high schools or the IU Office of Admissions; they are selected for having demonstrated exceptional qualities of character, leadership and distinction both inside and outside the classroom. The class includes several students who are the first from their high schools to receive this prestigious award. Internal Wells Scholars are nominated by IU Bloomington faculty and selected for similar qualities.

Related Links

2016 freshman Wells Scholars

Incoming freshman 2016 Wells Scholars. Not pictured is Andrew Coleton Hast.

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The 2016 senior Wells Scholars, Hendrik Glauninger and Claire Repsholdt, joined by director Christoph Irmscher, left, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Kurt Zorn, second from right, and associate director Charlene Brown, right.

The 2016 senior Wells Scholars, Hendrik Glauninger and Claire Repsholdt, joined by director Christoph Irmscher, left, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Kurt Zorn, second from right, and associate director Charlene Brown, right.

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