Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and The Urban League of Northwest Indiana have united to support local high school graduates in their pursuit of earning a degree from Indiana University Northwest.
Through the partnership, graduates of any Gary-based high school are eligible to receive the “Do Well by Doing Good” scholarship, a fully funded, tuition-only scholarship for students working toward their associate or bachelor’s degree at IU Northwest.
On Wednesday, July 17, Matt Schuffert, President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, presented an oversized guitar shaped check for $250,000 to Vanessa Allen McCloud, President & CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana to fund the program.
The Urban League of Northwest Indiana will serve as the scholarship funds’ Fiscal Agent and Scholarship Manager, gifting the funds to qualified IU Northwest students.
This remarkable initiative aims to assist Gary’s youth in achieving their educational goals by eliminating the financial obstacles related to college tuition. Recipients of this scholarship will have their IU Northwest tuition covered for up to four years, based on their FAFSA.
According to Schuffert, “Demonstrating to young people that their potential is limitless is what the ‘Do Well by Doing Good’ scholarship program is all about and Hard Rock is proud to play a role in making it happen.”
This scholarship not only grants access to higher education but also serves as a symbol of hope, demonstrating to young individuals that their potential is limitless.
“Research shows that a lack of finances can be a barrier to education for a large portion of first-generation and low-income college students,” McCloud said. “This generous donation from Hard Rock serves as a commitment to eliminating financial barriers for Gary students seeking to pursue their career goals.”
Through this collaboration, these entities are investing in the community’s future and empowering the upcoming generation of leaders.
“The transformative power of this gift is truly unmatched, as the lives it will propel and the opportunities it will provide will lead to many student success stories,” said Vicki Román-Lagunas, interim Chancellor of IU Northwest. “We could not be more grateful for Hard Rock’s and Urban League’s belief in the youth of Gary. These students are, without a doubt, our region’s future. This is a premier example of the good that occurs when community partners’ visions align.”
