By Kait Barnes, kb269706@ohio.edu

Photo Caption: Seyi Odunaiya, Brice Clymer, Victoria Calderon and Andrew Fowler, all 2009-2010 Ohio University Templeton Scholars, stand outside Scripps Hall in mid-October. The addition of these incoming Templeton Scholars brings the total number of Templeton Scholars studying in the Scripps College of Communication to 19, more than any other college on campus. / Photo by Brad Vest

ATHENS, Ohio (Sept. 30, 2009)—Templeton Scholars are among Ohio University’s best and brightest, and four of 10 incoming Templeton Scholars have chosen to study in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

The new scholars are Victoria Calderon, of Toledo, Ohio; Brice Clymer, of Chillicothe, Ohio; Seyi Odunaiya, of Athens; and Andrew Fowler, of St. Louis, Mo. The addition of these scholars brings the total number of Templeton Scholars in the Scripps College to 19, more than any other unit on campus

”I feel that more Templeton Scholars are communication majors because of the selective nature of the Scripps College of Communication,” said Greta Oliver, assistant director of academic support and outreach in the Office of Multicultural Student and Retention. “The Scripps College typically chooses to admit students who are high achievers, and Templeton Scholars are high achievers. They choose to come to Ohio University because the Scripps College is among one of the best communication colleges in the country.”

The Templeton scholarship program began in 2000 and annually awards merit scholarships to 10 incoming minority students who demonstrate academic ability and leadership skills. The renewable scholarship provides full in-state tuition, room and board and a 20-meal plan.

Clymer, who plans to major in news writing and editing, was in a high school journalism class when he found out he won the Templeton scholarship.

“I was actually sitting in journalism class, and I got called up to the office,” Clymer said. “My mom was standing there screaming, and she had a bunch of balloons and said I was going to college for free.”

Both Calderon and Fowler, also students in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, credit the program for making their transition to college easier.

“It’s made the transition from living at home to coming to a totally different place much smoother,” said Fowler, who came from out of state. “Because you know people beforehand, there’s a group you’re affiliated with, and it definitely helps.”

The program also provides valuable academic opportunities for the scholars. In addition to the opportunity to participate in the Undergraduate Research Project, scholars can also be involved the LINKS summer program, which gives upperclassmen scholars the chance to mentor incoming students through participation in a variety of academic workshops and social activities.

The program is named for John Templeton, the first African-American to graduate from Ohio University. The program honors his academic achievement and how he overcame adversity to become one of the first four African-American college graduates in the United States.

Oliver says the four new Scripps College Templeton Scholars are poised to make a difference on campus.

“They are very intelligent and fun-loving, but down to earth,” she said. “I’m having a lot of fun interacting with them.”