Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and The Urban League of Northwest Indiana are partnering to help local high school graduates pursue degrees from IU Northwest.
Through the partnership, graduates of any Gary-based high school are eligible for the “Do Well by Doing Good” scholarship. The scholarship is for students working toward their associate or bachelor’s degree at IU Northwest.
Matt Schuffert, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana president, presented a check for $250,000 to Vanessa Allen McCloud, Urban League president and CEO. The Urban League will serve as the fiscal agent and scholarship manager, gifting the funds to qualified students.
“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,” Schuffert said in a press release.
Scholarship recipients will have their IU Northwest tuition covered for up to four years. The initiative aims to assist Gary’s youth by eliminating the financial obstacles related to college tuition.
“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.
Through this collaboration, the entities aim to empower 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. “These students are, without a doubt, our Region’s future.”
IU Northwest is one of seven campuses of Indiana University. The campus has about 3,500 degree-seeking students. The university encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities and members of other underrepresented groups.
The Urban League of Northwest Indiana promotes neighborhood community collaborations toward improvement in areas of education, financial literacy, health, leadership and diversity. Based in Gary, the Urban League serves Lake, Porter and La Porte counties.
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana operates a casino and entertainment destination in Gary. It features slots and table games, food venues, a retail shop and a performance venue. Hard Rock Casino Northern opened in 2021.
(Photo provided by Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana)
