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New USI scholarship promotes leadership, honors alumna Harolyn Torain

September 29, 2016

This fall the University of Southern Indiana is announcing a new competitive scholarship program focused on diversity and leadership, and honoring alumna Harolyn Torain.

The Harolyn Torain Multicultural Leadership Scholarship provides support to students demonstrating academic achievement and leadership in diverse organizations, environments and leadership capacity for civic engagement and within the workplace.

"As a member of a community, always look for ways you can best use your gifts and goals for the good of the whole community, and encourage others to do the same," said Torain.  

The scholarship offers a $5,000 academic year award ($2,500 for fall semester and $2,500 for spring semester). Additionally, recipients will participate in an Inclusive Excellence Program centered on leadership, community service and cultural experiences throughout the academic year.

Any high school senior who meets the following criteria is eligible to apply:

The deadline to submit applications this year is December 1, 2016. More information and the application can be found at www.usi.edu/multicultural-leadership-scholarship.

About Harolyn Torain

Harolyn G. Torain, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was the first USI alumni to serve as president of the USI Board of Trustees. While currently retired, she has over 32 years of educational administrative experience.

A graduate of USI, she completed her bachelor's degree in biology in 1971. She later went on to receive a master's degree in secondary education from Indiana University in 1973. Her career in education has included junior high school science teacher, junior and high school science department chair, assistant director of high school evening division, and middle and high school assistant principal. Torain also served as human relations coordinator, summer school principal, and supervisor of buildings, grounds, budgets and cafeteria operations.

As an administrator, she worked to develop and implement policies to help faculty and staff, as well as the school. She evaluated teacher performance, developed and implemented effective attendance policies, institutionalized performance improvement plans, and supervised clerical, clinic and department staff. Her role within the schools provided an organized approach to the Performance Based Accreditation and the North Central Association visitation.

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