Purdue Club again offering scholarships

The Purdue Club of Putnam County is again offering three scholarships for Putnam County students who will be attending Purdue University in the fall of 2010. Additionally, the Barbara and Edward Brookshire Purdue Scholarship, for a county student to attend Purdue, will be administered by the Purdue Club.

Information and application forms have been distributed to each of the county high schools and are available in the high school guidance offices. Applications are also available at the Putnam County Community Foundation office at 2 South Jackson Street in Greencastle. County students who are presently attending Purdue University are also eligible to apply.

Completed applications must be submitted to the Putnam County Community Foundation office by Jan. 15. The chosen recipients will be notified by May 1.

This is the ninth year the club has offered scholarships. The 2009 recipients were Eric Drawbaugh, a 2009 graduate of South Putnam High School who is studying mechanical engineering; Brenten McGaughey, a 2009 graduate of North Putnam High School who is studying agriculture; and Janna Oxford, a 2009 graduate of Cloverdale High School who is studying agriculture education.

The 2009 Barbara and Edward Brookshire Purdue Scholarship was shared by Kyle Alcorn, a 2009 graduate of North Putnam High School who is studying agriculture economics; Jacob Saunders, a 2008 graduate of Cloverdale High School who is studying biology; and Rebecca Seahorn, a 2008 graduate of Greencastle High School who is studying pharmacy.

"The club was organized in 1998 and our scholarship program is one of our most important activities. We gave our first scholarship in 2002 to Jason Clearwaters, a Greencastle High School graduate, and we have been expanding the program since then," Purdue Club President Ron Birt said. "All proceeds from our fundraising activities go into the club's endowed fund at the Putnam County Community Foundation to ensure funds for future scholarships."

More information may be obtained from Birt at 526-2466, scholarship chairperson Shirley Steward at 386-7590 or the foundation office at 653-4978.