Tri-State University’s Scholarship Day Feb. 23 attracted a larger number of high achieving students than any previous year, according to statistics released by the TSU Office of Admission.

The competition invites students to engage in essay writing and staff interviews for a chance at two scholarships of $17,000 annually from each school of study, plus the full-tuition Bateman-Kolb Scholarschip. Eighty-three students, or 54 percent of TSU admitted applicants invited, participated in the competition, up from 70 in fall 2007 and 49 in fall 2006.

While the number of participants nearly doubled since 2006, the real increase occurred after 2005, when the Office of Admission instituted a comprehensive program for Scholarship Day, said TSU Vice President of Enrollment Management Scott Goplin.

“We streamlined the scholarship program to give it more visibility, and then made Scholarship Day a competition with an actual program. We now have panels for parents during the essay and interview for students,” he said. Parents of current scholarship students speak on the benefits, and other panels focus on academics and other subjects. During lunch at Witmer Clubhouse, a number of presenters provide even more information. “Now, enough interested students understand the facets of it,” Goplin said.

As a result of the Scholarship Day program, participants increased from 10 in fall 2005 to 49 a year later. That indicates success in the program, Goplin said. “We have a much greater number of high achieving students competing for TSU scholarships.”