Office of University Scholarships

Energen gift supports Auburn University first-generation college students

3:18 PM, June 9, 2008

James McManus

AUBURN - The Auburn University Foundation received $530,000 from Energen Corporation during the school’s recent campaign to support two programs: Energen First Scholarships and the Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship Program.

The Energen First Scholarships will benefit first-generation college students residing in central Alabama. “This scholarship won’t be limited to 4.0 students, as we aim to serve students who meet the university’s enrollment requirements and need a helping hand,” said James T. McManus II, chairman and chief executive officer of Energen Corporation.

These scholarships include tuition, room and board, books and student fees.

“We felt it was important to provide ‘full ride’ scholarships so students will concentrate on their studies and take advantage of the opportunity,” said McManus.

The Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship Program, or PLUS, also supports students who are the first members of their families to attend college and who also demonstrate financial need. The objective of the scholarships is to help retain students by providing academic and social support to assist students as they pursue their undergraduate studies at Auburn.

“Corporate partners, such as Energen, who share in Auburn University’s desire to increase opportunities available to all students are to be commended,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue. “The gift of education is perhaps the most valuable gift one can receive and Energen is providing that for students who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to attend college.”

Energen is a diversified energy company headquartered in Birmingham focused on its growing oil and gas exploration and production business and its strong, stable natural gas utility.

Contact: Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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AU established endowed memorial scholarship in memory of Lauren Burk

12:24 PM, March 21, 2008

Lauren A. Burk

AUBURN - Auburn University has established an endowed scholarship in honor of Lauren Burk, the AU student who died tragically on March 4.

A graduate of Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., Burk was a freshman studying graphic design and art. She was also an active and admired member of the Delta Gamma sorority.

The scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshman students majoring in graphic design with preference given to students from Cobb County, Ga.

“As the Auburn community grieves the loss of one of its own, we are touched by the thoughtfulness of others,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue, in response to the generosity of donations in Burk’s memory. “Gifts to the Lauren Ashley Burk Memorial Scholarship Endowment will be a permanent memory of Lauren’s tremendous spirit.”

Donations can be made online at www.develop.auburn.edu (specify Lauren Burk Scholarship Fund) or send a check payable to the Auburn University Foundation to The Lauren Burk Memorial Scholarship Fund, 317 South College Street, Auburn, Ala. 36849.

Contact: Bob McGinnis, (334) 844-1130 (mcgingr@auburn.edu) or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Scholarship funding at AU surges 25 percent this year

2:17 PM, January 31, 2008

AUBURN - Auburn University has seen a 25 percent increase in funding for student scholarships this academic year to a record $18.5 million.

Auburn students saw an increase in funding for both need-based and merit-based scholarships. Spirit of Auburn scholarships, a new program of financial assistance for students with outstanding academic records, led the way, with more than $2.5 million in scholarships in its first year.

Enrollment officials predict continued growth in scholarships, with funding for Spirit of Auburn scholarships expected to double in the next academic year, which starts in August.

The record increase in scholarship funds was achieved in the aftermath of a 2006 commitment by the AU Board of Trustees to significantly increase scholarship aid to Auburn students. That pledge came in a year in which Auburn was awarding a then-record amount of $14.8 million in scholarships.

“The Board of Trustees has committed to significant scholarship growth, and we’re now seeing the results of that commitment with a record number of scholarships awarded,” said Wayne Alderman, dean of enrollment services. “Deserving and talented students have earned these, and we’ll continue to increase our numbers and these opportunities as we move forward on improving scholarship opportunities.”

Almost two-thirds of the $18 million in scholarship funding this academic year was in university awards, which are open to students in any major. Another $5 million went to students through departmental scholarships in their AU colleges and schools, and $1.6 million was in the form of academic scholarship waivers.

More than 4,300 students received 7,400 institutional scholarships, with many recipients awarded more than one scholarship. Departmental awards went to more than 2,400 recipients, and academic scholarship waivers of partial out-of-state tuition went to 310 high-achieving non-resident students.

For the current year, AU enrolled 617 Spirit of Auburn Scholars. Within that number are 82 Presidential Scholars, who receive tuition for four years plus additional benefits. Another 272 students are Founders Scholars, who are awarded tuition for four years, and 263 are University Scholars, who qualify for $1,500 per year for four years.

Alderman said the Spirit of Auburn scholarship program for top scholars got off to a fast start in its first year and is expanding rapidly. AU has already offered nearly 1,500 of the highly coveted scholarships totaling more than $6 million for the 2008-09 academic year, which starts in August. Some scholarships of various types are still available and will be offered this spring.

For information on the scholarships at Auburn, see the Office of University Scholarships Web site at www.auburn.edu/scholarship, call 334/844-7570 or e-mail scholar@auburn.edu.

Contact: Deedie Dowdle, (334) 844-9999 (dowdledk@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University enrollment tops 24,000 students for first time

3:38 PM, September 14, 2007

New AU freshman class smartest on record

AUBURN - Auburn University’s fall semester enrollment hit a record high, and the university’s freshman class boasts the highest average ACT score of any class at AU, according to numbers released by AU’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

AU enrollment stands at 24,137 students with all student groups - undergraduates, first-professional and graduates - seeing an increase in enrollment numbers.

“The University’s committment last fall to improving and strengthening the recruitment of students to Auburn along with the Board of Trustees’ support for the Spirit of Auburn scholarship program are key factors in the improved academic profile of our freshman class,” said Wayne Alderman, AU’s Dean of Enrollment Services.

AU’s graduate student enrollment saw the largest percentage increase from 3,245 last year to 3,375 this year, a 4 percent difference. Undergraduate enrollment for fall semester 2007 stands at 19,812 - a more than 2 percent increase from last year’s undergraduate enrollment of 19,367. AU’s first-professional student enrollment, which includes students in Audiology, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine, increased from 935 students last year to 950 students this fall, a change of 1.6 percent.

AU enrolled the second largest freshman class in the school’s history and potentially the smartest. The total number of entering freshman is 4,191 compared to 4,092 enrolled last year. The record for freshman class enrollment stands at 4,197, set in fall semester 2005.
Additionally, the average ACT score and high school grade point average for this year’s freshman class is notably higher than last year’s class and better than that of any freshman class at least as far back as 1992. This year’s class averaged a 24.8 on the ACT, up from 24.3 last year, and recorded a 3.61 average GPA, up from last year’s average of 3.56.

Auburn’s freshman class totals exceeded last year’s totals in nearly every demographic. AU enrolled 2,477 new freshmen from in-state compared with 2,472 last fall, and 1,714 out-of-state new freshmen compared to last fall’s 1,620. AU continues to enroll a high number of out-of-state students as more than 40 percent of the current freshman class comes from beyond Alabama.

A record 706 new minority freshmen were enrolled, up from last year’s record-setting 691. The number of new transfer students also increased this semester with 1,307 enrolled as compared to last fall’s 1,278.

The numbers reported Thursday are official enrollment numbers, calculated after the 15th class day of every fall semester.

Contact: Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu), or
Katie Wilder, (334) 844-9999 (wildeka@auburn.edu)

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U.S. News ranks Auburn among Top 50 public universities for 15th consecutive year

7:52 AM, August 17, 2007

AUBURN - Auburn University is ranked 45th among public universities nationwide, according to an annual survey released by U.S. News & World Report today. The ranking marks the 15th consecutive year the magazine has ranked AU among the nation’s top 50 public universities.

“The people of Alabama can be proud that three of the state’s institutions rank in the top-tier of national universities, and the Auburn family can be proud that AU has enjoyed this distinction for 15 continuous years,” said AU President Jay Gogue. “The U.S. News and World Report assessment is another helpful tool that Auburn will use as we prepare a new strategic plan and continue to strengthen our instruction, research and extension programs.”

The AU College of Business improved in this year’s rankings. The college was ranked 29th among public business schools and 48th among all business schools.

The undergraduate program of Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is ranked 57th nationally overall and 34th among public universities that offer doctoral programs in engineering, moving up from 60th and 35th, respectively, from the previous year. Larry Benefield, dean of the college, commented that “this is the second consecutive year the college has moved up in the rankings, a trend reflected in graduate rankings as well,” and expressed gratitude to the engineering faculty for the accomplishment.

“The U.S. News ratings are based on indicators that some prospective college students may value, such as general reputation or selectivity,” said Drew Clark, director of AU’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. “But AU also uses assessments that provide direct information on equally important indicators of quality, such as how much students are actually learning and what kind of college experience they have.”

Clark said AU was among the first universities nationally to use the Collegiate Learning Assessment, which measures how much students are gaining in key areas such as critical thinking and written communication. Another assessment, the National Survey of Student Engagement, measures how much interaction students have with faculty, how actively they learn skills of inquiry and teamwork, and how challenging and supportive the campus environment is.

“Auburn students consistently achieve high marks for active learning, and Auburn ranks among the top research universities in the nation on the supportive campus environment measure of the NSSE,” he said.

To establish its rankings U.S. News categorizes colleges and universities primarily by mission and, in some cases, region. The magazine then gathers data from each on up to 15 indicators of academic excellence, assigning each factor a weight that reflects the magazine’s judgment about how much each measure matters.

The indicators the magazine staff uses to capture academic quality fall into seven categories: academic reputation among its peers, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and (for national universities and liberal arts colleges) the graduation rate performance, or the difference between the proportion of students expected to graduate and the proportion who actually do.

The newsstand book, America’s Best Colleges, which contains the U.S. News college rankings, may be ordered from www.usnews.com and will be shipped to bookstores today.

Contact: Deedie Dowdle, (334) 844-9999 (ddowdle@auburn.edu), or
Katie Wilder, (334) 844-9999 (wildeka@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University exceeds campaign goal nine months early

1:40 PM, July 12, 2007

AUBURN - Auburn University has surpassed its $500 million “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign goal with a $5 million gift from Raymond and Kathryn Harbert of Birmingham. The gift brings the campaign total to $504,657,718, the largest amount of private dollars ever raised in the state of Alabama.

Though this milestone has been reached, the campaign will continue until its previously announced conclusion date of March 31, 2008.

“We are accomplishing our goal through the help of the entire Auburn family,” said AU President Ed Richardson. “This campaign will help fund countless scholarships and bring more nationally recognized faculty to Auburn University. Its positive impact on Alabama is significant and will be felt for many years.”

Auburn’s campaign has raised more than twice the amount of AU’s “Next Generation” effort in the 1990s. The “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign provides funding for all AU colleges and schools as well as the AU libraries and museums, athletics and Auburn University Montgomery. Endowments for student scholarships, faculty and programs make up the remainder of the campaign’s goal. In addition to endowments, the campaign’s focus includes facilities and equipment, campus beautification, research and current operations.

“The continuing success of the campaign is due to the well-organized and executed effort of the employees and volunteers who worked on it,” said Sam Ginn, campaign co-chair.

“This achievement says a tremendous amount about the value Auburn University supporters place on a sound educational system.

“The funds being raised in this effort will have a lasting impact on the university and Alabama’s higher education system,” Ginn added. “However, Auburn University’s endowment is not sufficient to meet its long-term strategic goals. For this reason it is important we do not lose focus during these last nine months of the campaign and in future fundraising efforts.”

Campaign Co-Chair Sally Jones Hill said exceeding the goal nine months ahead of schedule underscores the Auburn family’s strong commitment and support of the university.

“The campaign’s success would not be possible without the efforts of many people. Although we have surpassed our overall goal, there are still many areas, such as scholarships, that could use additional funding,” Hill said. “Reaching our goal is a milestone, but it’s not the finish line.”

The Harberts’ gift is not only significant in reaching the campaign’s goal, but it is also the largest single gift ever made to AU’s College of Business. The multi-million dollar gift will provide unrestricted dollars to support the construction of an investment center in the Lowder Business Building - the only one in Alabama, and one of only three among southeastern conference schools - which will enable students to experience “real world” investing. The gift will also provide an endowment to support on-going maintenance and operations of the center and an endowment funding an eminent scholar chair.

Contact: Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu), or
Deedie Dowdle, (334) 844-9999 (ddowdle@auburn.edu)

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NORTH ALABAMA ALUMNI CREATE AU SCHOLARSHIPS

4:08 PM, May 15, 2007

AUBURN - Auburn University alumni of Madison, Morgan and Limestone Counties have created scholarships totaling over $500,000 to benefit AU students from the Huntsville area beginning this fall.

Donors from Madison County are Julian and Dorothy Davidson, David and Donna Lehman, Jesse and Carole May, Tim and Paula Steigerwald and Steve Wilson and his sister Wendy Wilson. Morgan County residents contributing to this effort include Randy and Nancy Campbell, Tim and Shannon Douthit, Dr. Lloyd and Sandy Nix and Frank and Virginia Stewart. Limestone County donors include Gary and Sherri Gross, Jerry and Marilyn Batts and Mark and Mindy Jackson. All of the donors have been active in contributing to the current fundraising campaign, “It Begins at Auburn,” in both giving and committee support.

Wendy Wilson graduated from AU in 1988 in accounting and said that Auburn was critical to her success. “My accounting degree from Auburn enabled me to get what I considered a ‘premier’ job out of school and laid the groundwork for a successful career in business,” said Wilson.

Wilson described her strong ties to Auburn. Just before she graduated from AU in 1988, she met John Gilino, an engineering student. Gilano joined Wilson in Huntsville and remained a dear companion to her until his untimely death in 2002. While participating in the Auburn campaign, Wilson created a scholarship to honor her mother and a memorial scholarship to honor Gilano.

“I hope John’s memorial scholarship allows a student from Madison County that may have a financial need to have the opportunity to experience Auburn and all that is has to offer both academically and socially,” said Wilson.

“Scholarships are a central factor in encouraging university growth, as well as a lasting way to support regional students as they enter Auburn,” said Bob McGinnis, vice president for development. “The generosity of Auburn’s dedicated alumni continues to help our university thrive. Scholarships are one important way for the Auburn family to support that endeavor by building the best educational foundation possible for our future scholars and leaders.”

McGinnis said that scholarships for north Alabama area students will encourage and help to sustain state growth in both education and future economic progress.

The “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign encompasses all colleges and schools as well as the AU libraries and museums, athletics and Auburn University Montgomery. Endowments for student scholarships, faculty, programs and unrestricted dollars make up 58 percent of the campaign’s goal. In addition to endowments, the campaign will also focus on facilities and equipment; campus beautification; research; and current operations. The campaign has raised more than $480 million, or 96 percent of the goal.

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SAM E. & BURNICE C. WITTEL FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE AU SCHOLARSHIPS

4:21 PM, May 16, 2007

AUBURN - The Samuel and Burnice Wittel Endowment for Scholarships was established this year at Auburn University by Calvin Wells, president of the Wittel Foundation. The endowment was funded at $130,000.

Wells, of Jackson, Miss., created the endowed scholarship in honor of the late Samuel Wittel and his wife, Burnice, also of Jackson, to recognize the charities and causes important to the Wittels.

The Sam E. and Burnice C. Wittel Foundation will provide two-year tuition scholarships to AU with preference going to students from Jackson.

Sam Wittel graduated from AU with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 1933 and Burnice was a graduate of Millsaps University. Wells’s daughter entered AU in the fall of 2006.

“If the Wittels were alive today, they would appreciate that Auburn does not measure success by the amount of money someone earns, but provides an environment that measures success by the quality of the individual,” said Wells. “With a daughter at Auburn, I have seen firsthand the support she has received, and I am pleased to assist with the endowment of the scholarship to encourage potential students for Auburn University.”

“Endowed scholarships invigorate and sustain our university’s legacy of educational excellence,” said Bob McGinnis, vice president for development, in describing the long-term support provided by endowed gifts. “By encouraging the potential of our students, Auburn University continues the traditions of the past while ensuring our future as an exemplary educational institution.”

AU is currently undergoing its largest fundraising campaign ever. The “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign is a $500 million comprehensive campaign that will raise funds for all colleges and schools on campus as well as the AU libraries and museums, athletics and Auburn University at Montgomery. The campaign’s focus includes student scholarships, faculty and program endowments; facility, equipment and campus beautification; and research and current operations.

(Contributed by Katharyn M. Privett.)

Contact: Kristen Jackson, (334) 844-3224 (jacksk6@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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AU INCREASING SCHOLARSHIP TOTAL TO $15.5 MILLION

10/5/06 Contact: Deedie Dowdle, (334) 844-9999 (ddowdle@auburn.edu)

AUBURN - Auburn University is offering a school record $15.5 million in scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year, including more than $2 million worth of new scholarship offers for Alabama’s top high school students.

“Thanks to commitments from alumni, the Board of Trustees and friends of the university, we have crossed a milestone in scholarship funding at Auburn,” said AU President Ed Richardson. Noting that the number and amount of scholarships have been rising rapidly, Richardson said, “Students entering Auburn next fall will have more opportunities for financial assistance than ever before.”

The $15.5 million in scholarships for next fall surpasses the previous record of $13 million in the current year.

A key part of the surge in scholarship aid for the coming year is due to the new merit-based Spirit of Auburn Scholarship Program. The Board of Trustees recently committed $2 million to establish the program as part of a comprehensive effort, including establishment of “learning communities” in new campus housing, to boost academic standards that are already in the top half of public institutions in the South.

More than 500 students will receive Spirit of Auburn Scholarships next fall. Priority will be given to students who are accepted to Auburn by Dec. 1.

Students with the best combination of grades and college entrance scores will be eligible for full four-year tuition, with other allowances and admission to the AU Honors College. Spirit of Auburn scholarship awards start at $1,500 per year. Students may also have the opportunity to include such individualized educational opportunities as studying abroad or participating in an undergraduate research project.

Spirit of Auburn Scholarship recipients will be eligible for additional scholarships through academic departments, schools and colleges and the university’s general scholarship program.

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