TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) == A $10 million gift from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology alumnus Niles Noblitt and his wife Nancy will launch the Noblitt Scholars program, offering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students enhanced attention and support in their studies.
Noblitt Scholars will receive scholarships up to the cost of full tuition. A dedicated faculty program director will mentor the scholars as they identify an area of interest they can master and make a meaningful impact. Each scholar will also have the opportunity to participate in educational travel, mentoring, and leadership development workshops.
“We are extremely grateful to Nancy and Niles for their generosity and commitment to the success of our students,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “By establishing a nationally recognized merit scholars program, we’ll continue to provide the personal attention that is the hallmark of a Rose-Hulman education but in exciting new ways that will bring transformative societal change. I believe this gift will also be transformational to the institute, helping to position Rose-Hulman as a national leader in educating students in STEM fields.”
Inaugural Noblitt Scholars for the 2020-2021 academic year number 81, resulting in the largest incoming freshman class since 2017, as well as one of its most diverse — 47% of the scholars are female, 21% are African-American, and 76% come from outside Indiana, including international students from China, South Korea and India.
“We wanted to establish a program that will enable our students to make a positive impact on environmental, infrastructure, health care and other major challenges as soon as possible,” said Noblitt, a 1973 Rose-Hulman biological engineering alumnus and current board chairman. He co-founded Biomet, Inc., now known as Zimmer Biomet, a medical device company in Warsaw, Ind.
In the future, the program will add about 55 new students annually.
