Nineteen new Rudd Scholars will join Wichita State University's community. Each recipient
will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, and on-campus
housing.File photo
Rudd Foundation awards scholarships to 19 future Shockers
March 25, 2021
By Strategic Communications
Rudd Foundation
Leslie Rudd established the Rudd Foundation in 1998 as a way to honor the Midwestern
values that strengthen character and lead to a lifetime of success in business, community,
and family. The Foundation gives back in meaningful ways to help both people and organizations
who possess the initiative, determination, and capacity to achieve their goals and
thereby make a positive impact for those around them.
The fourth class of Rudd Scholars includes 19 Kansas high school seniors who will
attend Wichita State University.
Each recipient will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees,
on-campus housing and considerable networking/coaching support along the way. All
Rudd Scholars are from Kansas and will attend Wichita State, Emporia State or Fort
Hays State.
“I’m thrilled Wichita State will be a part of each of these new Rudd Scholars’ journeys,”
said Bobby Gandu, assistant vice president and director of undergraduate admissions.
“We are working together to educate Kansas’ high-achieving, high-potential high school
seniors to be the state’s future professional workforce.”
In addition to living on campus and carrying a full load of classes toward their college
degree, scholars will receive mentoring and success coaching to help them graduate
in four years. They will also participate in many developmental activities outside
the classroom, network with leaders in their future professions, build strong relationships
among themselves and serve to help the next generation of scholars through an active
and connected alumni association after graduation.
“Wichita State has benefitted immensely from the three previous classes of Rudd Scholars,”
Gandu said. “They are thriving as student leaders, community-contributors and internship-earners.
While they are a powerful network of great students, I see them individually as personable,
professional and modest learners who continually exercise the Rudd Scholars’ values
of work ethic, passion and grit as Shockers.”
This brings the greater total of Rudd Scholars studying at WSU to 62 students, the
most of any Kansas Board of Regents institution. Total, there will be 103 Rudd Scholars
at the three universities. This represents approximately a $4 million financial commitment
to date since the program’s inception in 2018.
The Rudd Scholarship, sponsored by the Rudd Foundation, aims to remove financial barriers
to a college education. Chosen scholars are expected to achieve a high level of excellence
on campus in preparing themselves to be leaders in their profession and in their communities
after graduation.
