Joshua Phillips holding a check for $20,000

Scholarships are the answer to no student loan debt

Contributed By:The 411 News

For Joshua Phillips, who collected the highest scholarship awarded by the City of Gary Scholars program, last night’s ceremony meant his father, a single parent, won’t have to come out of his pocket to satisfy the dream of a college education for his son.

Phillips will be living at home, so he won’t have to pay room and board. Since he’s a 21st Century Scholar, his college tuition and fees will be paid by the state of Indiana.

In its first year, the City of Gary Scholars program is helping Phillips’ dad and the parents of 25 other high school graduates pay for college this fall. When the scholarship program was announced in March, the goal was to distribute $100,000 in scholarships. Much of that seed money was provided by Majestic Star Casinos. A partnership with Indiana University Northwest, Purdue University Northwest, and IVY Tech Community College added $18,000 more.

Joshua’s $20,000 came from the Purdue partnership that matched the amount of the Gary Scholars award and will cover his first 3 years. It also means the Phillips’ family will escape student loan debt, the brass ring in reducing the high costs of a college education.

Beginning with 176 Gary high school seniors who had been accepted in a 2 or 4-year college or technical degree program, 26 qualified at the end of the selection process. The City of Gary’s Diana Sandlin said an advisory council weighed students’ grade point averages and how they completed a set of incentives designed by ECIER, the city’s partner administering the program.

Students attended career workshops, performed community service projects, completed required readings and wrote essays. Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson favored the program because the workshops highlighted public safety careers in the police and fire departments, and giving back to the community was emphasized in the community service projects.

Phillips was among the many scholars who came from Thea Bowman Leadership Academy.

“Most of the Bowman students wouldn’t have been here without the work of Ms. Gries,” said Maya Bailey. “She ensured we understood the steps and had the tools to pursue the scholarships.”

Kia Jackson, 1st in her family to attend college agreed. “And we had a huge impact on each other. We helped each other get on the right track.” Jackson’s scholarship will help her attend Jackson State in Mississippi, a dream she’s had since middle school.

“Jackson State has a good biology program. Later, I want to go to medical school,” Jackson said. She was on the cheer squad, danced at Bowman and hopes to join Jackson State’s majorette squad which is part of the school’s dance program. “Dancing helps me to express myself,” she said. “When I’m dancing it brings out a whole different side of me.”

Scholarship awards ranged from $2,500 to $20,000.


Wirt-Emerson’s Kelechi Greene was awarded a $10,000 scholarship and is shown with Thedus Ellis, Gary City Council President Ron Brewer, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, and Joann Marsh, a member of the advisory council


Kia Jackson and mom, Melody Hopson


Montero Prince, Josie Washington, and Maya Bailey

Story Posted:06/23/2018