Scholarships

Wanda Deutsch Memorial Scholarship

Wanda Deutsch served as associate director and acting director of the Department of Residence Life (now RPS) for over 35 years. One of her primary responsibilities was the selection and training of RAs and professional staff.

Through a generous gift from her estate to the Greenleaf/Nelson Fund, the Residence Hall Alumni Association and Division of Residential Programs and Services are able to offer a $1,000 scholarship in her memory.  Only returning Resident Assistants or CommUNITY Educators are eligible to apply for this annual scholarship.

Qualifications:

• Have lived in the residence halls in the year prior to application
• Be a current RA or CUE and plan to return in the role for the upcoming academic year
• Demonstrate financial need

Dr. Jean C. Halterman Memorial Scholarship

The Residence Halls Association (RHA) and RHA Student Services are proud to sponsor a scholarship in memory of Jean Halterman, a professor of marketing in the School of Business. For many years, Professor Halterman served as an advisor to RHA Student Services and was involved with many other campus groups as well. His tireless service and devotion to students inspired the establishment of this award in his memory.

The scholarship consists of two $1,000 "Distinguished Service Awards" and two $500 "Honorable Service Awards." Each award will be based on the application and recommendations.

Qualifications:

• Be a current resident, as described in the RHA constitution. Current RAs and CUEs are not eligible due to employment by RPS
• Have a class standing as a junior
• Have participated in student government at IU Bloomington for a minimum of three semesters (including current semester); two summer sessions combined will be the equivalent of one semester
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Have a housing contract for residency in the succeeding year

Dr. Thomas Hennessy Scholarship

The Dr. Thomas Hennessy Scholarship is in honor of Thomas Hennessy because of his dedication in helping mold RHA Student Services into the program that it is today. Professor Hennessy wanted to use this scholarship as a means of promoting and rewarding the involvement of women in a variety of student government positions as well as community service activities.

This $500 scholarship is awarded annually at the RHA Spring Banquet. Selection is based on the application and recommendations received. Current IU faculty or staff are eligible to nominate a candidate. The application should include a list of activities and community service in addition to a statement of support for the candidate. Preference is given to female applicants.

Qualifications:

• Be a current resident, as defined by the RHA constitution, have a housing contract for the 2022-23 year, and must have lived in the residence halls for no more than two years (including current semester). Current RAs and CUEs are not eligible due to employment by RPS
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher
• Have participated in any level of student government at IU Bloomington for at least one semester and participated in a minimum of one (1) community service activity (Note: This includes the current semester of application)
• Obtain two letters of recommendation; at least one must be from a current IU faculty or staff member

The Professor Irving Katz Residence Hall Student Scholarship

Professor of History Irving Katz held IU residence hall students in a special place in his heart. This lifelong New Yorker who had never lived in a residence hall discovered that his perpetual dedication to teaching and learning could be multiplied by mentoring residence hall students. His 37 years of experience included membership on the task force that created the Briscoe Fitness and Wellness Center, membership on a wide range of residence hall councils and advisory boards, and charter membership in the Forest Friends (the precursor of Residential Fellows). Of all his forms of service, that as a Residential Fellow was his true and unending passion. Whether it was talking with students for hours in the dining rooms and discussing their knowledge of history or current events, explaining the etymology of their names, or giving opera previews and then taking hundreds of students to dress rehearsals, Irving never tired of sharing his lifelong love of learning and culture with undergraduate students. It is to honor the great gifts that Irving gave residence hall students that this scholarship is created. By honoring a student who exemplifies Irving's commitment to merging the academic and residential lives of undergraduate students, it is the intention of the creators of this scholarship to perpetually honor Irving Katz.

The Professor Irving Katz Residence Hall Student Scholarship award in 2022 will be $1000.

Qualifications:

• Be a current undergraduate residence hall student as described in the RHA Constitution. RAs and CUEs are not eligible due to employment by RPS
• Re-contract for residency in the succeeding year
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher

Additional consideration will be given to those applicants who:

• Demonstrate residence hall service that encourages fellow students to explore the academic and cultural opportunities of Indiana University
• Demonstrate financial need
• Are majoring in either History and/or Jewish Studies

David A. Neumann RPS Scholarship

The David A. Neumann RPS Scholarship is sponsored by David A. Neumann. Mr. Neumann provided this scholarship in order to support dedicated RHA student government leaders. Mr. Neumann started in RHA as a Read Floor Governor and later became the 1980–81 RHA president. From 1997–2002, David Neumann served as director of Residence Halls Alumni Association.

The scholarship consists of one $1,000 award to be given at the RHA Spring Banquet.

Qualifications:

• Be a current resident, as defined by the RHA constitution
• Be a sophomore, junior, or senior who will be living in the residence halls the following year
• Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Demonstrate financial need
• Demonstrate leadership skills and have participated in RHA

George R. Olsen Halls of Residence Scholarship

The RHA and RHA Student Services began sponsoring this scholarship in memory of George R. Olsen in 2019. For 21 years Mr. Olsen served as the director of the Halls of Residence. During his tenure the residence hall system flourished with many new structures and innovative developments in the area of food service and visitation. This award was established to honor his love for students and his commitment to their living environment.

The scholarship is for one full tuition and full room and board award for a student at the in-state level. These awards will be based on the application.

Qualifications:

• Be a current resident, as defined in the RHA constitution
• Have a housing contract for the 2022–23 academic year
• Currently hold an office in RHA or Residence Hall Student Government
• Demonstrate financial need
• Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher

Preference will be given to those following a premedical curriculum

Leland Ratliff Leadership Award

The Leland Ratliff Leadership Award was established by RHA to recognize Mr. Ratliff's service to the residence halls. The award was created to honor Mr. Ratliff, former director of the Halls of Residence, on the occasion of his retirement. Inscribed on the plaque, which holds the names of the award winners, is this dedication to Mr. Ratliff: "Established by RHA in Recognition of his Friendliness and Service."

An award of $1,000 is given each year at the RHA Student Services Spring Banquet to a member of RHA who has rendered outstanding service to students in the residence halls.

Qualifications:

• Be a member of the RHA. Current RAs and CUEs are not eligible due to employment by RPS
• Hold a residence hall contract for the following academic year
• Submit an application to the Ratliff Leadership Award Selection Committee. This application should list activities and provide support for the candidate's application for the award
• Be a present or former president of a residence hall or an RHA executive
• Be in good academic standing with the university

Albert W. Ruesink Residence Hall Student Scholarship

Professor Al Ruesink retired from the Indiana University Department of Biology in June 2012 after 45 years of service to IU. During his years at IU, Al won numerous awards for his teaching and dedication to undergraduate education. In 2010, he received the Student Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty, an all-campus award from the IU Student Alumni Association. Al's dedication to undergraduate students was remarkable. He taught over 10,000 students, wrote in excess of 2,700 letters of recommendation, and served for over 30 years as a Residential Fellow in the residence halls. As a Residential Fellow, Al spent significant quality time with students, sharing meals in the dining halls and serving as an informal mentor for thousands. He also was a dedicated member of the RPS Academic Initiatives and Services (AIS) Committee, which serves to initiate, review, and support all residential academic programs. It is to honor Al's dedication and service to residence hall students and his passion for teaching that this scholarship was created. The Professor Albert Ruesink Residence Hall Scholarship award is a $1,000 room credit for two residence hall undergraduate students.

Qualifications:

• Be a current undergraduate residence hall student
• Re-contract for residency in the succeeding year
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Demonstrate significant service to residence hall students for two or more semesters
• Be on track to graduate within four years

Additional consideration will be given to those applicants who are majoring in the natural sciences and/or are seeking a teacher certification.

Dr. Phillip M. Summers Memorial Residential Scholarships

Campus Housing Advisory Committee (CHAC) is proud to sponsor, with the financial support of RPS, two residential scholarships in the memory of Professor Phillip M. Summers, who served as a faculty appointment to CHAC for seven years and committee chair for four years. Professor Summers is remembered for his commitment to connect with students through his teaching—he returned to the classroom after stepping down from the presidency of Vincennes University—as well as his dedication as a loyal alum of Indiana University to be active in many advisory capacities, including service to residential experience through his enthusiastic leadership of CHAC.

These two $1,000 residential scholarships in the form of room credit will be awarded to one male and one female member of the RHA who has rendered outstanding service to students in the residence halls during their freshman year on the Bloomington campus.

Qualifications:

• Be a current resident, as described in the RHA constitution, in progress toward completion of their first year of studies on the Bloomington campus Current RAs and CUEs are not eligible due to employment by RPS
• Have lived in the residence halls for their entire first year at IU Bloomington (including current semester)
• Have participated in student government at IU Bloomington for a minimum of two semesters including current semester (two summer sessions combined will be the equivalent of one semester)
• Achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Award based on quality of application, not financial need
• Must be a resident in IUB residence halls or apartments in each semester of their sophomore year to receive award.  Award will be disbursed at $500/semester
• RHA president and two vice presidents (Administration and Engagement) for the next academic year would be ineligible to receive this award.

Tate-Chesmore Employee Scholarship

RPS employees provide services to thousands of students each year. The Tate-Chesmore Employee Scholarship honors two former employees who exemplify the values of hard work and dedication to service that this scholarship will recognize. Wendell Tate worked in the Halls of Residence for many years in positions of increasing levels of responsibility and retired in 1991 as Maintenance Supervisor; Ruth Chesmore worked at Indiana University for several decades in positions of increasing levels of responsibility and retired in 1988 as Associate Director of Foods for the Halls of Residence.

To recognize their contributions and those of countless other dedicated employees from the Halls of Residence and Residence Life, RPS offers a competitive scholarship to its full-time service, support, and non-exempt employees, their spouses, registered domestic partners, or dependent* children. The scholarship, supported by gifts to the Greenleaf/Nelson Fund, includes a $500 credit to the general bursar account and, if needed, a $500 credit for RPS housing or meal plan.

Qualifications:

• Eligible RPS employees include current full-time service staff, support staff, and non-exempt RPS staff, or their spouses/partners or dependent children
• Must be in good standing with the university and/or department of employment
• Must show proof of acceptance to the university if not currently enrolled
• Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree
• Have a housing contract for residency in the succeeding year

* Dependents definition: a child, a stepchild, a child whose legal guardian is an eligible IU RPS employee/spouse/partner, or a child of a deceased employee/spouse/partner eligible at time of death, and who fit the following criteria:

• Is 23 years of age or under
• Is unmarried
• Meets the IRS support test as a dependent of the employee, spouse, or partner

RHA Commitment to Community Award

The Residence Halls Association is proud to sponsor the RHA Commitment to Community Award. This scholarship is designed to recognize an individual who has provided service to a residence hall community and achieved academic success as a student. Residence hall communities are successful because of the students who become involved and the contributions they make to the community where they live. This scholarship looks to recognize a student who has contributed to the sense of community in a residence hall community (which can be defined as a floor, house, building, learning community, center, or the entire system). A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded at the RHA Spring Banquet.

Qualifications:

• Has provided at least one semester of service to the residence halls (i.e., floor rep, leadership council, judicial board, community council, center executive)
• Have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher
• Currently living and re-contracted for IU residence halls
• Can be used for summer school or overseas study
• RAs and CUEs are not eligible to receive this award due to employment by RPS