Amid a statewide focus on diversity at Iowa’s Regents institutions, the number of National Achievement Scholars enrolled at Iowa State is at record levels.

These 19 African-American high school students, who arrived at Iowa State in Fall 2002, were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for outstanding academic achievement while in high school. Iowa State ranked third among public universities in recruitment of National Achievement Scholars for the fall of 2002.

“Much of the university is engaged to get these individuals,” said Marc Harding, director of admissions. “We’re competing with some of the best universities in the country, and it’s a tremendous achievement for us to be third in the nation in recruiting them.”

To attract National Achievement Scholars, Iowa State gives the scholars a free promotional campus visit to meet with students and professors and they also receive a letter written from the president of the university welcoming them to campus and encouraging them to enroll, Harding said.

The National Achievement program is not new to Iowa State — it has been offered for over 20 years.

“The achievement program itself started in 1964, but it started at Iowa State during the 1979-1980 school year,” said Tom Becker, program coordinator of admissions.

Recruitment of National Achievement Scholars benefits not only the university, but the scholars as well, several current recipients said.

“I think the program is an excellent way to provide opportunities for high achieving students,” said Denise Williams, a National Achievement Scholar and senior in psychology.

National Achievement Scholars who gain admission to Iowa State are awarded a scholarship that includes eight semesters of tuition as well as room and board. The total award package is worth more than $56 thousand for out-of-state students and more than $30 thousand for Iowa students.

“Funding for the scholarships is part of a university effort,” Harding said. “This is something the university has said is important to fund.”

Guy Howard, junior in computer engineering and a National Achievement Scholar, said, “the scholarship is important, but it’s not the most important thing.”

Howard said when he first visited Iowa State, he thought the computer engineering facilities were very impressive. The other university he was interested in attending was Georgia Tech, which did not offer full room and board.

Howard said this difference in the scholarship offer was a big part of why he chose Iowa State.

“It’s obvious that they want you to succeed,” Howard said. “It’s not that they want you here just for the numbers.”

The scholars must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to continue to receive the scholarship, Becker said.

“Iowa State does a very good job of recruiting students who will benefit the university during their time here and I think National Achievement scholars can only add to that,” Williams said.

The scholars are here for more than just academics, Becker said. They are also very involved on campus and are just the type of students the university is trying to attract.

Although the National Achievement Scholarship program does an excellent job of recruiting talented African-American students to Iowa State, Williams said more could be done to help attract additional minority students to the university.

“I think higher involvement in multi-cultural organizations by both majority and minority students would give ISU an even better reputation, which would aid with recruitment of minority as well as other students,” Williams said.

The recruitment of students of such high caliber is very important for the university, Harding said.

“These students have so many choices and can go anywhere they want to,” Harding said. “They come from all over the United States to be here, which is a great opportunity for other students. The scholars bring so much diversity, and existing students get to interact with these very bright students.”