The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to about 80 students on campus. Four of those students serve on Student Government.

Eric Wilber, Chris Kromphardt, Ryan Kerch and Jennifer Prillaman are involved in campus politics while finding time to excel in their studies.

Bonnie Irwin, dean of the Honors College, said she is not surprised with the high number of presidential scholars in Student Government.

“The Presidential Scholars program is designed to get students outside of class, whether it is internships, research, study aboard, etc,” Irwin said. “A lot of students choose to get involved in campus and Student Government is one of the venues to do that.”

Irwin said 40 incoming freshmen are interviewed for the scholarship annually. She said students are chosen after academics, leadership abilities and motivation is determined.

Kromphardt, a Student Senate member and senior political science major, has been a three-semester scholar who wants to be a lawyer, politician or professor. He will go to the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa for graduate school. Kromphardt has been involved with national politics, having gone to the Democratic National Convention.

Wilber, student executive vice president and a junior political science major, has had connections with Springfield officials since high school. Irwin said she was impressed with Wilber’s initiative.

“Eric came in with politics at Eastern and even has known Chapin Rose before coming here, so I expected him to continue maintaining these contacts,” she said.

Wilber said he would like to go to law school following graduation.

Prillaman, a Student Senate member and freshman international studies major, is interested in being an ambassador for a country like France or China upon completing her education. She said she knows French, some Spanish and will learn Chinese next fall.

Prillaman said her Delta Delta Delta sorority sister Carissa Coon was on Student Government before and encouraged her to join. She said joining Student Government was a way to get more involved with her major.

Despite serving on a local government, Prillaman said Student Government will assist her in international politics.

“Student Government uses the same skills for outreaching to people that I would use later on,” Prillaman said. “It would help with everything.”

Kerch, student vice president for student affairs and a senior biology major, was a scholar for his first five semesters. He left the scholar program when became a senate member during the spring 2008 semester.

Kerch said the program has students go to campus events to get immersed in the university. That is how he heard of Student Government.

“It says something that Student Government is committed with academics,” Kerch said. “Kromphardt has been academic committee chair for two semesters. We are not just here for entertainment or student organizations; we are here for improving academics.”

Kerch is looking into graduate programs in science policy so he could mix his interests in science, politics and policy.

Wilber said Student Government is a good opportunity for Presidential Scholars or other students to expand themselves.

“It is an opportunity to get your hands dirty in campus issues that people care about,” Wilber said. “EWP, library hours, steam plant, etc. I found personally that all I learned in my classes have culminated in my position.”

He added students do not have to have to be a presidential scholar to enjoy study aboard, campus involvement and research opportunities.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].