Gary city officials have put together a new program to provide scholarships to help students attend college.
The program, to be known as Gary Scholars, will be run by the Merrillville-based ECIER Foundation, with financial help from the Majestic Star casino
Actual dollar amounts of the individual scholarships have yet to be determined, but Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said during a Tuesday press conference that $100,000 will be distributed the first year of the program – with $50,000 per year in future years.
Freeman-Wilson said preference would be given to students with an interest in a public service career.
Recipients of a Gary Scholars program scholarship don't have to attend a college in Indiana, but the mayor said she'd like it if those Gary residents were to return after their educations are complete.
Students who receive the scholarships must have grade point averages of at least 2.5 and must have been accepted to a college or technical school.
The advisory committee maintained by the ECIER Foundation will meet next week with Gary high school principals and counselors to identify seniors who could receive the first round of scholarships.
The foundation, in existence since 2013, attempts to promote the ideals of education, communication, innovation, entrepreneurship and relationships.