Eastern Greene grad awarded Simon scholarship

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Three knee surgeries in a year piqued 19-year-old Ty Childers interest in athletic training, and soon the 2004 Eastern Greene High School graduate will begin studies at Indiana University to become an athletic trainer.

A top scholar and involved student and community member, Childers has received a number of scholarships to help him pay for his college expenses. Among those are the Toby Yoho, Lavon Huxhold, Partners in Education, and Odd Fellows scholarships, as well as the most recent -- the one-time, $1,200 Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship.

"The Simon scholarship has given me a great opportunity to improve my education," Childers said. "I learned a lot at Eastern, and I'm looking forward to going to IU and starting that part of my life and really succeeding in that area."

In high school, the son of Michael and Judy Childers, Stanford, was vice president of his senior class and president of National Honor Society. He played varsity basketball, which explains the knee injuries, and also played trumpet in the band. He was a Boys' State delegate and member of the Super Bowl Social Studies Team. He also participated in the Buddy Program, which he said paired high-school students with elementary-age students for activities such as reading. Childers said his grade-point average was around 3.82.

"I was third in my class," he said.

Childers also has been active outside school, especially with his youth group at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington. He was youth table leader of Chrysalis, a weekend retreat for a men's Christian organization, and he's assisted with Vacation Bible School.

"I went on two mission trips with my youth group," he said.

On a trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., the young people worked with children at a week-long camp. Working with underprivileged children at a community learning center was the focus of another trip to Minneapolis, Minn.

"It incorporated fun with learning activities," Childers said.

He had fun with learning in 4-H, as well, exhibiting in the cattle and sheep projects.

The Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship program was started in 2000 by the nonprofit Simon Youth Foundation to help support qualified students planning to advance their education at any accredited college, university or vocational-technical school. The foundation was established in 1998 by Simon Property group, the nation's largest mall owner and operator, along with the Simon family, to use Simon malls to foster and improve educational opportunities, career development and life skills in youth. Scholarship recipients are selected by Scholarship America Inc., a third-party administrator.

"The Simon Youth Foundation is committed to providing youth in those communities where Simon does business with educational and career-development opportunities through such national initiatives as the Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship Program," said Richard Markoff, executive director of the foundation. "We are pleased with the response we have received from students during this fourth year of the Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship Program. We look forward to continuing to support students in their pursuit of education."

Childers applied for the scholarship through Bloomington's College Mall and was honored at an award ceremony there July 8. He was one of 177 young people selected nationwide from 1,200 applicants to receive either a $1,200 or $2,500 scholarship.

"Through the Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship Program, we have the opportunity to support the academic endeavors of promising youth in our community," said Dena Marietta, director of mall marketing at College Mall. "We are pleased that Ty has been selected as a recipient of the Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship, exemplifying excellence in scholarship, leadership and volunteerism."

She said this year's high-school seniors can look for applications at the Simon Marketplace in their local Simon Mall in November or December. She said guidance counselors and the media will be notified when the applications are available.

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