CORVALLIS - Oregon State University's Presidential Scholarship fund and a landmark 74-year-old campus residence hall will benefit from gifts from the OSU Student Foundation.

Student Foundation grants are funding a four-year $24,000 OSU Presidential Scholarship and a $10,000 renovation of sauna facilities in Weatherford Hall, said Ryan Hildebrand, Student Foundation president.

The student-run foundation works with students to find projects important to students and then find ways to fund those projects, Hildebrand said. Formed in 1974, the Student Foundation works in private fundraising with OSU, and projects range from meetings and conferences to buildings and scholarships.

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered by OSU and the foundation's gift will mean a $6,000 per year gift to a deserving OSU scholar, Hildebrand said.

The merit-based awards help attract the best and brightest students to OSU, and eligibility requirements include a minimum 3.85 grade point average for entering students and a score of 1,300 or better on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Other criteria include demonstrated leadership qualities and proven ability to thrive intellectually and to contribute to the OSU academic community, he said.

Weatherford Hall was originally built in 1928 and named the Men's Dormitory. The name was later changed to honor attorney J.K. Weatherford, who served on the college's Board of Regents.

The building was closed in 1994, awaiting funds for extensive renovation. University plans now call for the eventual establishment of a Residential College of Entrepreneurial Learning in Weatherford Hall, where business, engineering, and other students with entrepreneurial interests can live, eat, learn, and work together.

Source: 

Ryan Hildebrand, 541-737-2101

Click photos to see a full-size version. Right click and save image to download.