SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION A SUCCESS; MORE THAN 400 COMPETE FOR ACADEMIC AWARDS
More than 400 academic achievers from throughout Virginia and seven other states participated in Old Dominion University's first scholarship competition this past weekend. John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement, said the two-day event was a success thanks to the combined efforts of the admissions office and the six academic colleges.
"This truly was a university-wide effort with tests, interviews, tours, informational sessions, etc.," Broderick said. "It provided the students and their parents with an additional opportunity to learn more about Old Dominion. It also was rewarding for our faculty to see first hand the outstanding high school seniors interested in attending Old Dominion University."
In addition to presentations on financial aid, academic programs and the Career Advantage Program, parents also heard from Provost Jo Ann M. Gora and Honors College Dean Lou Henry.
As part of the competition, each student was given one hour to write a blue-book essay on one of two preselected topics. Following this off-the-cuff exercise, the students were interviewed by faculty members in their disciplines of interest.
Students who were selected for the competition applied for admission to the university by Dec. 15 and met the following minimum academic requirements: a 3.25 grade point average and an 1100 SAT score, or a 3.5 GPA and a ranking in the top 10 percent of their class.
Each student who competed and ultimately enrolls at Old Dominion is guaranteed at least a $1,000 annual scholarship for up to four years, based on meeting yearly eligibility requirements, and many students will earn awards in higher amounts -- up to full-ride, four-year scholarships. Students competed for a variety of university awards, including the prestigious Governor's Technology Scholarships.
The type of scholarship and amount of the award will be based on the students' essays and faculty interviews.
While the majority of the students are from Virginia, others traveled from as far north as New York and as far west as Texas. Old Dominion even made provisions to conduct phone interviews of three U.S. students attending Department of Defense Schools in Germany and Korea and to accept their essays via e-mail.