Wyman Center in St. Louis has established a new scholarship program at Missouri State University.

The Wyman Scholars Endowment will assist graduates of Wyman programs who choose to attend Missouri State University.  Three full ride scholarships, available for four years each, were awarded to Kenneth Harding, Evy Eschbacher and Emily O’Donnell for the 2009-10 academic school year, with the possibility of more being funded in the future.

In the partnership, Missouri State covers all tuition costs for Wyman program graduates through the Missouri State Promise Scholarship, the Multicultural Leadership Scholarship and other need-based financial aid. The $5,000 scholarship from the Wyman Scholars Endowment is to be applied to the cost of room and board for those students, enabling them to graduate in four years with no or very little debt. To maintain the scholarship, recipients must maintain a 2.75 grade point average and meet other non-academic expectations.

“We are thrilled to have developed this partnership with the Wyman Center and the Wyman Scholars Endowment,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “It is yet another way that Missouri State can make higher education affordable and accessible to the neediest students in our state.”

The Wyman Center in St Louis is a division of Wyman, a nationally-recognized not-for-profit youth development organization that is preparing youth from disadvantaged circumstances to lead successful lives and to build strong communities. Wyman achieves this by being the confluence of youth development theory and putting that theory into practice.  Wyman programs enable teens to discover their strengths and develop their potential and leadership abilities – qualities that point to lifelong success. Wyman is an expert in developing teens and puts a premium on long-term, results-driven programs that work.

The goals for Wyman’s comprehensive youth development programs are to help youth: 1) be productive in school and establish life skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership abilities; 2) connect with family, adult role models outside of the family, peers and community institutions; and 3) navigate through life by thriving in diverse environments, relating with people from various populations, taking responsibility for one’s self and others, and avoiding unhealthy risks. Wyman’s philosophy, grounded in the most current national research, is that keeping young people “problem free” is simply not enough.  It aims to help them be “fully prepared” to be successful in school, work, family and community.

“We have been working with Missouri State on a growing number of initiatives for more than a year now,” said Dave Hilliard, president/CEO of Wyman since 1975.  “We have been very impressed with the university’s commitment to under-served youth and also with the level of attention and service that the university provides to all of its students.  We believe we have a long and productive future ahead of us. The Wyman Scholars Endowment, begun by Board Chair David Morley and his wife Cheryl, is an important and significant step.”

Wyman, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit and proud member of the United Way, is a nationally recognized teen development organization that is preparing teens from disadvantaged circumstances to lead successful lives and build strong communities. Its innovative programs are powerful and effective, and the staff is highly acclaimed and committed to preparing today’s youth. Wyman Center, Inc.  is sponsored by corporate, foundation, and individual contributors. For more information, please check out www.wymancenter.org, contact Wyman at (636) 938-5245 or by e-mail at info@wymancenter.org.