11-22-95 Merit Scholarships Renamed, Expanded MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS EXPANDED, MUST APPLY BY DEC. 15 COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University has renamed its merit scholarship competition for incoming freshmen and expanded the number of scholarships to be awarded from 40 to 100. Now known as University Scholars Maximus, the program will award 10 Presidential Scholarships, 30 Medalist Scholarships, and 60 Traditions Scholarships. Presidential Scholars receive "full rides" -- tuition, room and board and a book allowance -- with an estimated annual value of $11,070. Medalist Scholars receive full in-state tuition, currently valued at $3,273 per year. Traditions Scholars, a new category, will receive one-half in- state tuition, currently $1,636. All scholarships are for four years of undergraduate study. Students are chosen for the scholarships through an essay competition held at the Columbus campus in February. All students who have mailed completed admissions applications with postmarks of Dec. 15 or earlier will be considered for invitation to compete for the Maximus scholarships. Generally, those who rank in the top 3 percent of their high school classes will qualify as University Scholars, be offered $1,200 University Scholarships, and be invited to participate in the on-campus essay competition for the Presidential, Medalist and Traditions scholarships. Nina Hoppes, program coordinator at the University Honors Center, says the new name is more descriptive. "University Scholars Maximus indicates that all University Scholars are eligible, and it conveys the idea of increasing the value of the University Scholarship," she said. Because of the high interest in the competition, the application deadline is firm. "It is very important that students have their completed freshman admissions applications here by the deadline," Hoppes said. "They must have all the materials requested in the application, and the application must be postmarked no later than Dec. 15." Now in its fifth year, the University Scholars Maximus program (previously called the Presidential and Medalist Scholarship Competition) is part of Ohio State's efforts to enhance its academic standing through aggressive recruitment of high ability students. # Contact: Nina Hoppes, University Honors Center, (614) 292-3135. [Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu) Wed, 22 Nov 1995 11:17:38 -0500] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.