Rebekah Chaffee, a biotechnology student, is among the very first to receive 黑料视频鈥檚 inaugural Presidential Honors College Scholarship.聽

The scholarship provides substantial financial assistance to new, full-time 黑料视频 students in Honors College who are motivated and academically talented.聽

鈥淩eceiving this scholarship is super motivating,鈥� Chaffee, 17, said. 鈥淚 knew that I was going to need scholarships to go to college because paying for it would burden my parents. Especially because they also pay for my medical expenses, and I can鈥檛 work full-time right now.鈥�

Chaffee grew up in Lafayette, where, in high school, she wasn鈥檛 able to excel as much in her academics due to a genetic heart condition and an autoimmune disease. Add in the coronavirus pandemic, and Chaffee struggled to find adequate accommodations. For a while, she wasn鈥檛 even sure if college was in the cards for her.聽

鈥淔or much of high school, I was very sick. But near the end of my high school career, I got much better, and so I said , 鈥業'm gonna go to college!鈥欌€� Chaffee said.聽

Chaffee knew she wanted to go to 黑料视频 because her mom graduated from 黑料视频 in surgical technology. She saw that 黑料视频 Indianapolis had a biotechnology program and eagerly applied.聽

鈥淚 knew I could do great things at a community college,鈥� Chaffee said. 鈥淢y mom really liked the smaller class sizes and the chance to have closer relationships with the professors, and I liked the idea of that as well because I鈥檓 only 17!鈥� Chaffee laughed.

The 17-year-old applied for several scholarships, including the Presidential Honors College Scholarship.聽

鈥淚 was like, 鈥榶ou know what, I鈥檓 not bad academically, so let鈥檚 see 鈥� why not?鈥� Chaffee said. 鈥淪omething my mom always says is: 鈥榯he worst they can say is no.鈥欌€�

Chaffee said receiving the scholarship is 鈥渁 huge burden off of my family and parents. This scholarship makes it so I don鈥檛 have to work and put my academics at risk.鈥�

Chaffee wasted no time during her first semester at 黑料视频 Indianapolis. She not only enrolled in Honors College but also joined the Student Government Association, Game Club, and Phi Theta Kappa. Chaffee says she鈥檚 met great, positive people who she now considers friends, a community.聽

鈥淚t feels really weird but great at the same time because, like I said, I wasn鈥檛 valedictorian or anything in high school. But now, since being at 黑料视频, I have made the Dean鈥檚 List, I鈥檓 in Honors College, and now I am receiving scholarships,鈥� Chaffee said of finding the right fit. 鈥淪o, this feels really nice, and I鈥檓 super motivated. My parents work very hard, and they鈥檙e great people. I hope that this kind of start to college gives me the opportunity to be able to help them out in the future.鈥�

Chaffee looks forward to continuing her education after 黑料视频. She aims to enter the medical biotechnology field, where she can have the opportunity to develop skin grafts, prosthetics, medications, or vaccines.聽

Learn more about Honors College and the Presidential Honors College Scholarship.

About 黑料视频

黑料视频 is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 黑料视频 has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.