Many say “the third time’s a charm,” but for Travis Haynes, the second time was the ticket when he visited Trine University.
“When I first visited Trine, I was still weighing my options. The second time around, it was ‘Yes, Trine definitely’,” he said. “The scholarship was another yes, reinforcing that Trine is definitely where I need to go.”
Travis, of West Unity, Ohio, said he aspires to be a mechanical engineer and knows Trine has an outstanding engineering program and strong academics. Those reasons put Trine on his list and he was swayed during his second visit to the campus when he “got a feel for the campus” and observed things he had not noticed during his first visit. He also liked what students had to say about the university and was excited to learn about Campus Christian House.
The scholarship Travis mentioned is Trine’s biggest, the Bateman Kolb Full-Tuition Scholarship.
“We are pleased to have such a high-caliber student as Travis joining us at Trine,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president. “His academic achievement and great potential for future success are evident and among the reasons why he is our Bateman Kolb scholar for fall 2014.”
“I had to listen to the message twice to get it because I remembered the full-tuition scholarship being called the Bateman Kolb. Hearing that in the message, it was like, ‘Wait a minute, where’s that paper? I need to check it’,” he said.
“My mom was in tears. It is definitely a really cool thing to think wow, they only give out one and I was the pick,” he said, adding that his parents, Bruce and Cindy Haynes, are very happy about the scholarship.
Travis won the award based on his academic credentials and participation in Trine’s Scholarship Day program, which includes an essay and interviews with Trine faculty. That day marked his second visit to Trine.
“I wasn’t really sure how I might stack up against other students who were there,” he said. “I thought there is a chance I might get a scholarship; there’s always that glimmer of hope.”
Based on his high school achievements, Travis had good reason to harbor hope. He’s one of three valedictorians for the 2014 graduating class at Hilltop High School, been on the honor roll “as long as he can remember,” is a member of National Honor Society and was named a scholar athlete by the Buckeye Border Conference for the fall 2013 athletic season.
This academic year Travis has been taking college classes at Northwest State Community College and has been named on the dean’s list.
Since junior high, he has won many awards for academic success. He was the recipient for class awards in English, advanced math, sociology, psychology and physics, along with Quiz Bowl and National Honor Society.
The Bateman Kolb Full-Tuition Scholarship was established with a $3.1 million gift from Maxine Bateman Kolb, widow of Richard M. Bateman, former Tri-State College president.
Travis’ merit-based, full tuition scholarship is valued at $31,600 per year, renewable every year until graduation. In addition to Travis’ eligibility for Trine University’s Honors Program, each year he will be provided the opportunity to select a funded internship (valued at up to $2,000 annually) with the University’s president’s office or a member of the President’s Cabinet including the vice president of Academic Affairs, vice president for Enrollment Management, vice president for Advancement, vice president for Finance, or the senior vice president for Student and University Operations.
Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, informatics, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. Trine is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Its golf program includes the university-owned 18-hole championship Zollner Golf Course. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org), Trine operates a 450-acre main campus in Angola, Ind., and education resource centers throughout Indiana, Arizona and Michigan.
