(Indianapolis)--The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has announced the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program to underwrite scholarships for nontraditional college students at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and Ivy Tech State College-Central Indiana. The Trust will sponsor five students at IUPUI and 12 students at Ivy Tech State College each year, with the first cohorts of Nina Scholars registering for the 2001 Fall semester.

"Education was very important to Nina Mason Pulliam. Nina saw education as a crucial tool to self-sufficiency and personal fulfillment," said Trustee Nancy M. Russell. "The Nina Scholars program is an exciting, new dimension for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. A primary giving focus for the Trust is helping people in need; the Nina Scholars program takes our mission to another level."

"The Trustees are particularly pleased that many of the nonprofit organizations the Trust funds through its regular grant program serve individuals who could be eligible for this type of educational support. Our plan includes creating relationships with these organizations and the participating colleges and universities to bring the opportunity of higher education and self-sufficiency to those who might not have dreamed a college degree was within their reach," Russell added.

"The individuals the Nina Scholars program seeks to help face incredible barriers to obtaining higher education. With the Trust minimizing the economic barriers and IUPUI and Ivy Tech providing special outreach and support to each of the Nina Scholars, together we believe we have a strong chance for success," Russell explained.

The Trust is interested in providing scholarships to Indiana residents who are: adults, 25 years or older with dependents in their family unit; young adults, ages 18 to 25, who have been raised through the child welfare system and have no form of financial support; and college-age youth and adults with physical disabilities. Applicants receiving first priority will be those with a household income of 80 percent or less of the median income for their geographic area.

Support for the Nina Scholars will include full resident tuition, book expenses and student fees. In addition, an annual living allowance of $2,500 may be applied to expenses such as housing, transportation, childcare and health insurance.

"The key to success in the new American economy will be higher education," Gerald Bepko, IUPUI Chancellor said. "Keys to increasing the disappointing percentage of the Hoosier population who have completed a baccalaureate degree include access provided by financial support and encouragement by example. As the Nina scholars are successful, their stories of achievement will inspire other students and family members to seek higher education."

"This is an outstanding program, which far surpasses a simple monetary gift," said Ivy State Tech College President Gerald I. Lamkin. "With the comprehensive support offered by the Nina Scholars program, the participants will have a far smoother path through college. With financial obstacles removed and a safety net of guidance and mentoring in place, these students will have the opportunity of a lifetime to prepare for a career and achieve goals they perhaps thought were impossible to achieve."

"We so appreciate the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust's commitment to establishing a long-term scholarship program that provides these students the key ingredients they need to succeed," Lamkin added. "We believe the platform of support Nina Scholars receive will enable them to achieve their educational and career goals and ultimately contribute to Indiana's economic development."

"The Nina Scholars program will encourage current donors and potential donors to consider scholarship support for at-risk populations at higher levels and for longer periods of time-an approach that is attuned to the needs of this population," Bepko stated. "This will be a very important complement to other scholarships at IUPUI because it focuses on an important population and because it encourages students to pursue the broadest range of degree and career interests."

The first class of Nina Scholars will begin in the 2001 Fall semester. For further information about applying to the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program contact: IUPUI, Beth Barnette at 317-274-5516 or Ivy Tech State College, Darrell Cousert at 317-921-4800.

"Nina would have been so pleased about the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program because it provides people with the means for self-sufficiency through education. This was one of Nina's fundamental beliefs," Russell concluded.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life in Arizona and Indiana, the states Nina Mason Pulliam called home. The Trust has also developed a Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program in Arizona with Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges.