Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 March 2004 — Page 4

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004

NETWORKING ► Continued from Page 1 derstandingof what each of these groups is doing in the community at large.” Smith also noted that there appears to be numerous instances of “cross duplication" taking place among organizations in the Afri-can-American community. In other words, many of them are performing the same functions. The I PA and MCBA believe that these entities can be much more effective if they were aware of each other and could possibly combine their resources together to achieve common causes.

The networking event will give Black professionals an opportunity to showcase their goods and professional services, and it’s a stepping stone to creating economic growth in the Black community,” said attorney Maxine King, representing the MCBA. “It’s times like these the Black community' must return to the basics of economic development. Charity starts at home. Black organizations must pull together their resources and encourage and support minority businesses.” King added that organizers

w ould like to see even household in Marion County utilize at least one Black physician, lawyer, dentist, accountant, financial planner, plumber, broker, seamstress, cleaners, etc. Croups that have expressed an interest in attending so far include Links, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the National Coalition of 100 Black Men and professors from IUPUI along with Black firefighters, physicians and journalists. Organizers, however, are quick to point out that the event is not

limited to just Black professionals. Anyone who has an interest in improving the Indianapolis community is invited. But Smith warned that space for the event is filling up fast due to limited space at Bonefish Grill. “Hopefully people will respond quickly,” she said. “Many people we share this information with have told us that this is something that should have been organized a long time ago and we have a lot of calls from various organizations.”

Registrations for the networking event are as follows: $30 for individuals, $300 for a table of six, or $1,000 to $2,000 to be a co-sponsor. The fees take care of the dinner and help support the IPA’s minority scholarship program. Checks should be made payable to Indianapolis Professional Association and mailed to Gail Barnes, 7941 Inishmore Way, Indianapolis, IN46214. For more information, call Colleen Smith (317)216-8888or R ussell Vertner

at (317) 274-3492.

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Rina Rason Pulliam C H A R I ! A B L l IRUSI Scholarship helps nonlradiiional sludenis By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer Since 2001, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has offered scholarships to nontraditional college students at IUPUI and Ivy Tech Central Indiana. Each year, five new students at IUPUI and 12 at Ivy Tech receive a full scholarship, which includes resident tuition, book expenses, student fees and an annual living allowance of $2,500. “Education was very important to Nina Mason Pulliam,” said Harriet M. Ivey, president and CEO of the trust. “Nina saw education as a crucial tool to selfsufficiency and personal fulfillment.” Although it sounds like many scholarships offered at most schools across the country, the Pulliam scholarship is unique. It offers assistance to three categories of students: adult students 25 or older, with dependents, who have never attended college or who have had their education in- ■ terruptedyears earlier; physically disabled traditional college-age or older students; and young adults who were raised in the child welfare system and must be responsible for their own financial support as of age 18. Jacqueline Wagner is one of those students. A single mother of tw o children, Wagner decided to go back to school at Ivy Tech and get her degree. “It’s something I always wanted to do,” she said. “I have two children and education means a lot to me. I tell them how important it is and this situation teaches my childrenalot. Itshowsthat I practice what I preach." Not only is she showing them how to do it, but she’s showing them how to do it well. Wagner currently has a 3.8 GPA, and has finished many semesters with a 4.0. She will be graduating summa cum laude on April 30. Her work doesn’t stop there, however. She plans on continuing her education further and getting her bachelor’s degree and then go to law school. “I know what it takes to succeed now,” reflects Wagner. “I’m older and more mature and I w as ready this time around.” The Pulliam scholarship has already helped over 100 students like Wagnertoattend school without having to get deep (or deeper) into debt. “The individuals the Nina Scholars program seeks to help face incredible barriers to obtaining higher education,” said Ivey. “With the trust minimizing the economic barriers and IUPUI and Ivy Tech providing special outreach and support to each of the scholars, together we believe we have a strong chance for success.” The support offered by the schools themselves is almost as important as the help given by Pulliam. “Kathleen Vahle (Nina Scholars program manager) is mycounselor and I have to give her a big thanks,” said Wagner. “She helped me, not only w ith school but just when I needed someone to talk

to.”

Applications for the Pulliam scholarship are being accepted until April 1. For more information contact Marsha Currin, IUPUI representative, at (317) 278-7878 or Kathleen Vahle, Ivy Tech representative, at(317)9214617. Nina Mason Pulliam (1.9061997) was a journalist, a businesswoman and a humanitarian. Upon her death her assets were placed in an irrevocable charitable trust to last for 50 years.