IU Scholarship Recipients Ready to Pay It Forward

October 11, 2024

• Outstanding BSN Student
• Honors Program Graduate Award recipient

At 14, Grace Streck’s life changed when she was admitted to Dayton’s Children’s Hospital. As she battled a severe leg infection, it was the care from her nurses that she never forgot. “I had to stay a few days,” Streck remembers. “But I met some really great nurses.”

Eight years later, Streck has graduated with her IU nursing degree and taken a full-time position at the same children’s hospital that inspired her to care for patients.

“I accepted a position in the pediatric intensive care unit,” she said. “I can’t wait to focus on work. I’m excited.”

During her senior capstone, one unforgettable moment that further energized Streck’s passion for nursing was a one-week trip working with the unhoused and other struggling people in Detroit. She decided to write her senior thesis about the mental health effects of pediatric homelessness.

“I feel I grew personally and professionally,” she said. “I will miss [IU East] a lot. I really had opportunities to build relationships. We have a lot of different opportunities than other schools.”

Thank you to Mike Bennett and the IU East Office of Communications & Marketing for the original reporting and writing that contributed to this story. Read “Nursing job takes Streck full circle at children’s hospital.”

• IU Regional Law Scholar, Robert H. McKinney School of Law
• Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity Summer Institute Fellow

Tahj Borom represented IU Kokomo on the baseball field for three years, and now he’s on his way to representing future clients as a lawyer. Borom is interested in merging his athletic world and law into a possible career in sports and entertainment law.

With two IU degrees already completed, Borom started at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law as an IU Regional Law Scholar in fall 2024. The IU Regional Law Scholar Award is given to only one student from each IU regional campus annually.

“I was nervous about whether I was going to fit in,” Borom said. “You have the idea that everyone [in law school] is going to be so smart, and [you wonder] if you are smart enough.”

However, Borom soon realized hard work was the key factor to success. And he certainly knows how to work hard, having balanced academics and athletics—all while completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years.

“Tahj possesses a remarkable blend of integrity, diligence, and compassion,” said Gloria Preece, assistant dean of the School of Business and director of the MBA and MPM programs at IU Kokomo. “His ethical compass is finely tuned, and I have no doubt that he will contribute meaningfully to the legal community.”

“Going to this program showed [me] that everyone who goes to law school, they’re all people just like you,” Borom said. “While they are smart, you are smart as well. It confirmed that I belong there, and I can do it.”

Thank you to the IU Kokomo Office of Media and Marketing for the original reporting and writing that contributed to this story. Read “Student athlete chosen as IU Regional Law Scholar.”

• 21st Century Scholar
• Grenadier Gold Scholarship recipient
• Chancellor’s Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Groups Scholar of the Year

A college degree can be lifechanging, especially for first-generation students and their families. But navigating college life can be extremely difficult without the benefit of someone close to you with firsthand experience.

Indiana University created the Group Scholars Program at IU Bloomington over 50 years ago to help more first-generation and underrepresented students succeed. In addition to financial assistance, Groups scholars receive academic and social support. This year, the Groups program expanded to include all IU campuses.

Xondrais Marie Glenn was accepted into the program at IU Southeast and has modeled what can happen with access to education and reliable support. Glenn is a member of the IU Southeast Honors Program and Multicultural Student Center, and she has achieved many awards recognizing her dedication to her academic career and leadership roles on campus.

“[The Groups Scholars Program] makes it feel like we belong at the college,” Glenn told WTRV’s Meredith Hackler in July 2024.

Thank you to the Office of the Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education for the original reporting that contributed to this story. Read “Regional campuses honor students, faculty and staff with Groups Scholars awards.”

Arthur Gupton refused to look back at his life with regret. He began college in 1974 but left to join the military before he was able to finish his degree. After his military service and spending more than 30 years as a roofer and a chef, Arthur decided to spend his retirement finishing what he had started.

Four decades after starting college, Gupton has graduated with a Master of Liberal Studies degree. At 67 years old—the eldest 2024 graduate from IU South Bend—he has become a true testament that it’s never too late to get your education and accomplish your goals.

“It had always been a dream of mine to finish my degree,” Gupton said. Another motivation for his journey was inspiring his family, including two sons who are IU graduates and a grandson who is an IU student.

“I want to inspire them to get their master’s degrees as well. We’re an IU family, and I’m hoping my daughter decides to go here as well,” Gupton said.

Gupton is now looking forward to a new career as a caseworker for a crisis center that provides mental health and addiction treatment for children, adolescents, and adults in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. There, Gupton hopes his story inspires the people he encounters to believe in a brighter future for their lives.

“I see the poverty, and the key to ending poverty is education,” he said. “I want to help people see that.”

Thank you to IU South Bend Media and Marketing for their original story, “Class of 2024: Oldest graduate hopes to inspire others,” which this story was based on.

• 21st Century Scholar

Khaya Njumbe’s young age couldn’t deter his vast love for learning. At 13 months old, he was reciting words flashing on the TV screen. By three years old, he was playing the piano and learning Chinese. At age four, Khaya’s first school experience was attending a reading program at IU Northwest, which sparked his interest in IU.

“Since [that age], he said this is the school he’s going to go to,” his mother, Belinda, said.

Njumbe’s parents, astounded by his exceptional abilities, were pivotal in his academic journey. Support from Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program was also critical to his success. At age 11, he leaped several grade levels and began taking community college classes, earning associate degrees in liberal arts, engineering, and general studies. He enrolled at IU Northwest when he was 12 and, in 2024, graduated with his bachelor’s degree—all before getting a driver’s license.

“I guess a lot of people thought that I wasn’t going to be able to do this,” Njumbe said. “It’s pretty normal for me now because as far back as I can remember, that’s all I’ve known.”

Since childhood, Njumbe has been confident that he can achieve anything he works hard to accomplish. That attitude didn’t change at IU Northwest, where he thrived in an environment that championed his curiosity and hunger for success. Now he plans to find a master’s program in preparation for medical school, where he’ll pursue his lifelong goal of working in biomedical engineering. If all goes according to plan, Njumbe will finish medical school by 22 years old.

Thank you to IU Northwest Marketing and Communications for their original story, “IUN’s Class of 2024: Receiving a degree at 15 years old,” which this story was based on.

• Onward! Curtis R. Simic Scholarship for Leaders recipient
• Charlotte & Samuel Hight Scholarship recipient
• Gettelfinger Family Scholarship recipient

Allison Baughman dreams of creating an event where IU scholarship recipients like herself can meet with the donors who have made their IU experiences possible. She calls it her “passion project” because scholarships have impacted her life so much.

A rising senior, Baughman has received several scholarships in her time at IU, including the prestigious Curtis R. Simic Scholarship for Leaders in 2024.

“Earning the scholarship brings me immense pride, representing both my efforts to lead and [the leadership of] those that uplift me throughout my IU journey,” Baughman said. The scholarship enabled Baughman to expand her horizons at IU with a constant reminder to lead with grace and openness and be willing to champion her peers into their greatness. She’s not only been able to pursue her academics (two majors and a co-major), but also serve on the Board of Aeons and Kelley’s Academic Fairness Committee in addition to several other student groups.

For Baughman, scholarships are not only financial aids but stepping stones, giving students access to education and the opportunity to explore their potential and grow as they learn.

“There is an indescribable feeling of unity and pride in becoming a Hoosier, knowing an entire alumni base is willing and ready to move mountains to help me achieve my goals,” she said.

Baughman is on track to graduate in 2026 with degrees in international business and management, with a co-major in law, ethics, and decision-making (LEAD). With her sights set on the future, she is currently applying to law schools with plans to pursue international business law.

• Robert S. Smith Memorial Scholarship
• Chancellor’s Scholar Award

A 20-year hiatus from the classroom couldn’t stop Amy Sanford from reaching her academic goals. Despite facing personal setbacks, she persevered to earn her IU degree.

“I didn’t believe in myself [at first],” she said, “but as I received support from my professors, I realized I could do anything with hard work.”

Sanford not only graduated but also served as commencement speaker for her graduating class. “I felt truly honored to have been chosen,” she said.

The criminal justice major also received the 2024 Chancellor’s Scholar Award.

“This award afforded me the chance to meet some incredible individuals who play an important role in providing educational opportunities,” Sanford said.

Since graduation, Sanford has worked as a family case manager at the Indiana Department of Child Services. She is also a law student at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, with a future goal of becoming a judge.

“IU Columbus helped me to regain my self-confidence,” Sanford said. “I will forever be grateful for my time here and the people who helped me along the way.”

• IUFW Suedhoff Completion Scholarship
• Sharon Curbox Professionalism
• IUFW Excellence Award
• 21st Century Scholar

For dental hygiene student Payton Warfield, a trip to Honduras during her senior year was lifechanging. While there, she helped provide free cleanings, fillings, and other oral care to people in need.

“My favorite part of the trip was when young patients started the appointment nervous [about] what was to come,” Warfield said, “but by the end, we would receive a hug from them because they were so grateful for the care that we were able to give them.”

Warfield was one of eight dental students selected for the program in Honduras, co-led by IU Fort Wayne Dentistry and the nonprofit Sonrisa Siempre. Through its clinic in Comayagua, Honduras, the nonprofit has provided dental care, education, and supplies to underserved communities since 2009.

Giving back to others has brought a new perspective to Warfield, and how others giving to her through scholarships gave her access to attend IU.

“The dental hygiene program is not a cheap field to go into, especially coming from a lower-income family,” she expressed. “To be able to [attend IU] without worrying about tuition and [earning an] income was very helpful.”

Warfield’s after-graduation plans include serving her community at a local dental practice. In the future, she plans to help underserved communities, with hopes of revisiting Honduras one day—all the while advocating for dental care access for everyone.

• Chancellor’s Scholarship
• IUPUI Top 100 Outstanding Students

This year, Jared Hutchek completed two bachelor’s degrees, in business and environmental science, and became a third-generation graduate from IUPUI, which became IU Indianapolis on July 1, 2024. Hutchek follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, who graduated around the time IUPUI was first established over 50 years ago, and his father, who completed his degree at IUPUI in the 1990s before Jared was born.

Since childhood, Hutchek’s grandfather and father showed him that working hard is what it takes to accomplish goals.

“My parents taught me if you want something bad enough, you must work for it,” he said, “You’ve got to go above and beyond in everything you do.”

This mentality helped Hutchek through his challenging times, which paid off immensely. In 2023, he was honored as one of IUPUI’s Top 100 students for demonstrating academic excellence, community engagement, and campus leadership. This year, Hutchek received the Chancellor’s Award Scholarship, which he said afforded him many opportunities he otherwise wouldn’t have experienced, including being able to prepare for the Law School Admission Test (which he passed).

Hutchek is now continuing his studies at Florida State University College of Law, with the goal of becoming an environmental lawyer. His family, especially his father and grandfather, are thrilled to add a first-generation lawyer to the family lineage.

“They are very proud. They knew I put in a lot of hard work,” he said. “This achievement represents the positive outcomes that can come from hard work and opportunities like the ones IUPUI has given me.”