Beginning this fall, the Meadows School will be able to better compete nationally for the very best and brightest students, thanks to the new Meadows Scholars program.

The program is targeted to applicants who are accepted to Meadows and who meet stringent academic and leadership criteria, including minimum SAT scores of 1350 (math and verbal) and a minimum high school GPA of 3.5. While such high achievers automatically receive SMU scholarship awards of $12,500 per year, many of them are still unable to afford tuition, which in 2008-2009 will be $33,000. The new Meadows Scholars program offers an additional $7500 in scholarship funds annually, plus a $5000 travel/research stipend that can be used anytime during their years at SMU, providing a significant incentive for them to choose Meadows.

“Our goal is to recruit at least 10 new Meadows Scholars each year,” said José Bowen, dean of the Meadows School. “We hope to support students in a variety of our academic divisions. In particular, the travel/research stipend, which will be funded by the Meadows Foundation Edge for Excellence grant, is a wonderful advantage that few other universities offer; it will allow these students to participate in study abroad programs, which are becoming increasingly important to students’ development as well as to future employers.”

Meadows Scholars also will enjoy other advantages, including guaranteed admission to the degree program of their choice as first-year students, specialized academic advising, faculty mentoring, enrollment in an interdisciplinary seminar class taught by guest lecturers and Dean Bowen, opportunities to  attend special events and programs, and recognition as a top scholar in their chosen discipline.

The program, which is modeled after the successful BBA Scholars Program at the Cox School of Business, was developed by Tommy Newton, Director of Recruitment, and Pam Henderson, Director of Financial Aid, in conjunction with Dean Bowen.

Supporters who pledge $7500 a year for four years, or who provide a permanent endowment of $150,000 (which may also be pledged over a period of up to five years), will be able to “name” a Meadows Scholar. Donors and corporate sponsors can support a Meadows scholar within any of the Meadows disciplines and will have an opportunity to correspond with their student and to meet him or her personally at an annual reception at SMU President Gerald Turner’s home.

To date, 12 supporters have signed on to launch the program in fall 2008, many of them SMU alumni and/or SMU parents. They include Linda and Bill Custard, Rachael and Bob Dedman, Gloria and Jack Hammack, Bev and Terry Heil, Lila and Hunter Henry, Jeanne R. Johnson, Gene and Jerry Jones, Linda and John McFarland, Shirley Pollock, Peggy and Carl Sewell, Maria and Mark Sikkel and Dorothy Wood.

Jeanne Johnson was the first donor to provide an endowment for the program. Johnson, an SMU alumna whose philanthropy has benefited both the Cox and Meadows schools at her alma mater for many years, said, “I’ve been very interested in the music program at Meadows and am delighted to support this effort as well.  I really want to help provide an incentive for intelligent, talented young music students who could not otherwise afford it to choose SMU.”

For more information about this exciting program, please visit Meadows Scholars or contact Leslie Garner, lgarner@smu.edu or 214-768-4189. 

Back to February 2008 newsletter