Katherine Combs of Perry Meridian High School was named as a Richard G. Lugar Minority Scholar at the Fund for Hoosier Excellence’s (FHE) annual banquet hosted by Senator Lugar on April 28.  She received a $20,000 scholarship to her school of choice in Indiana and will attend Purdue University to study actuarial science this fall.   Kathy was nominated for the scholarship by her high school last December.  She was selected as one of 20 finalists from throughout Indiana to interview with the selection committee in March.

The Fund for Hoosier Excellence was founded in 1983 by U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar to build an appreciation for academic excellence among minority students, encourage the best and brightest to attend institutions of higher education in Indiana, and to foster their choice of Indiana for careers which will add vigor and breadth to our economy and culture.  The FHE has awarded annual scholarships each year since its founding.  This year it awarded ten scholarships to outstanding minority students: two $20,000 scholarships to one boy and one girl and eight $4,000 scholarships.

The FHE recognizes outstanding achievements of young people at a crucial point in their lives and makes them part of an esteemed group.  Senator Lugar, the alumni and Board of Directors advocate for the student’s success in addition to the financial scholarship they are awarded.  In return, they are asked to attend an Indiana college or university, earn a quality education, and use it to provide leadership and mentoring to their communities and the next generation.