BGSU announces new scholarship for women

BOWLING GREEN, O.—A new scholarship for female, nontraditional students who have been out of high school at least five years and are from Mercer or Wood County has been established at Bowling Green State University. The Marlene A. Dietrich Purdy Scholarship will be awarded beginning this fall.

The scholarship is for women who have never before attended a college or university. One student will be chosen each year, with preference given to those with demonstrated financial need.

The award amount will vary, and the scholarship may be renewed with submission of a new application provided the recipient has maintained a 2.5 GPA.

This award was established by Lee and Marlene Dietrich Purdy of Fort Wayne, Ind., and reflects the path toward higher education taken by Marlene as a nontraditional student, with the encouragement and support of her husband.

“What inspired me was that I had been unable to attend college straight out of high school, so I did not start my college career until seven years later,” she said. “My husband was very instrumental in my going to school and encouraged me to earn a degree in something I loved. I had seen my former superintendent at a basketball game and he told me that I should never give up the idea of going to college. Thus, when the opportunity arose I took the plunge.”

“As BGSU continues to serve nontraditional student populations, this scholarship is a gift for those wanting to start their college career and realize their dreams,” said Dr. Marcia Salazar-Valentine, interim dean of Continuing & Extended Education at BGSU.

Marlene Purdy received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1969 and her master of education degree in guidance counseling in 1970, both at BGSU. She went on to receive her doctorate in education from the University of Toledo. She served as dean of students at Vanguard Career Center in Fremont, Ohio, until her retirement in 2000.

For more information on the scholarship and an application, contact Stan Lewis at slewis@bgsu.edu or visit the Nontraditional Student Services Web site at http://bgsu.edu/ntss.

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(Posted February 23, 2010 )