The President's Scholars Award Program at Texas A & M University

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if the President's Scholars Award Program at Texas A&M University has been successful in enrolling high academic achievers who differ significantly in selected nonintellectual characteristics from other undergraduate students who enroll in Texas A&M. The history and development of the President's Scholars Award Program, which began in 1968 at Texas A&M, was presented in its relationship to the three financial sources of support for the awards. Additional research described how the students were nominated by their high school principals and what qualifications were used by the Faculty Scholarship Committee in the selection procedures. The program's uniqueness, that the award of {dollar}500 per semester is given without any knowledge of or regard for the student's financial need or condition, was explained. Previous research was presented emphasizing nonintellectual characteristics of high academic achievers and selected socio-economic classification of the parents of this student group. The development of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS), designed to measure a cross-selection of normal personality needs or preferences, was presented.