BUILDING CONFIDENCE, SHAPING FUTURES: The Impact of UIndy Scholarships
At the University of Indianapolis, support from alumni and donors goes far beyond financial aid—it transforms lives and shapes futures. Every gift, whether it funds scholarships, supports academic programs or enhances campus life, creates a lasting impact on students’ lives and the University’s future. For some students, especially first- generation college students, these scholarships and gifts are the key to attending college at all. For others, the impact goes beyond finances. For Evan Porterfield ’26 (Communication), receiving the Joseph Cathcart BUILD Scholarship endowed him with the confidence to persevere and seek a college degree. The Baccalaureate for University of Indianapolis Learning Disabled (BUILD)
and BUILD. “Through our personalized support and scholarships like the Joseph Cathcart BUILD Scholarship, we are able to empower students like Evan, who have faced challenges, to thrive in college and beyond. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students not just succeed academically but also grow in confidence and leadership. We couldn’t be prouder of Evan and his achievements.” From a young age, Porterfield was told that college would not be an option for him due to his severe dyslexia and ADHD. Thankfully, his family refused to let the naysayers dictate Porterfield’s future, and they enrolled him at Fortune Academy, which used a personalized approach to education to help Porterfield succeed. Porterfield would go on to graduate high school with a 4.0 GPA. Then it was time to take the next step: apply to college. And Porterfield did what so many had said would be impossible. “When I was accepted to UIndy, my heart soared,” recalled Porterfield. “The long battle that I had was now over. Not only did I get accepted
to college, but I received multiple scholarships. I was recognized for the effort I put in, and that was priceless to me.” Knowing someone believed in him enough to invest their own funds into his future pushed Porterfield to make the most of his college experience. In the three years since he became a Greyhound, Porterfield has founded multiple student organizations, including Global Greyhounds, a group dedicated to promoting international education at UIndy; risen through the ranks to become Vice President of the UIndy Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and an account executive with Top Dog Communication; and, this year, he is the producer for UIndyTV’s show, Grand Slam Sports. “UIndy has supported me more than I ever could have imagined,” said Porterfield. “Being here has helped showcase my skills to my fullest potential. I am forever grateful for the resources that UIndy has given me to become the person I am today. I’m excited to continue to thrive thanks to UIndy and its supporters.”
program provides personalized support to UIndy students with
learning-related disabilities to help them successfully navigate their college experience. “Evan’s journey is a perfect example of the kind of impact the BUILD program strives to make,” said Betsy Fouts, Director of Disability Services
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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