The Inter-Residence Hall Association will be awarding $7,500 worth of scholarships to 10 ISU students.

IRHA is currently sponsoring a scholarship program for students who live in the residence halls and have made a difference in their communities.

In total, there will be 10 scholarships awarded in the amount of $750 each.

The vice president of the Friley Hall Council, Paul Vidmar, sophomore in civil engineering and member of the IRHA scholarship selection committee, said IRHA’s current scholarship ideas stemmed from past offerings.

“The scholarship idea came from a previous scholarship in 2003 that was limited to hall council members only,” Vidmar said. “We looked at that and gave it a new spin by offering it to all resident hall students and recognizing them for their contributions, not only in the resident halls, but what they are doing in the Ames community.”

The scholarship money will be awarded to members of ISU neighborhoods that include UDA, Wallace, Old RCA and Buchanan Hall.

Vidmar said the scholarships are being distributed to promote leadership while rewarding those who have demonstrated the necessary qualities.

Along with its involvement with scholarship and community service, IRHA has also supported the installation of security cameras in the residence halls on campus. Since being approved, it has been determined that the cameras will be installed in all entry ways, the Maple-Willow-Larch commons, and Schilletter-University Village.

Tyler Stricker, IRHA president and senior in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine, said the installation will provide an opportunity for more security and protection while limiting vandalism.

“The department of residence wanted to have the support, not only from IRHA, but students in general,” Stricker said. “We wanted to make sure that students understood the importance of having cameras and how this creates a safer environment.”

Based on the current timeline for the project, the installment of the security cameras is set for summer 2008.

During its day-to-day operations, IRHA oversees all of the residence hall councils and the governing bodies of the residence halls. It also represents students from the department of residence, in major student affairs and Iowa State.

“We conduct weekly meetings, from planning events to creating policy recommendations and other problems that need to be addressed,” said Stricker.

Another important aspect of IRHA is funding.

In the past, IRHA has helped fund many groups and events on campus, such as Free Friday Flicks, the news readership program, the Freeman Spring Concert and Residence Hall Week.