Fourteen ISU juniors were chosen as Robert G. Bone Scholars for the 2012-2013 school year.

The Bone Scholarship is the highest honor an ISU undergraduate can receive, according to the ISU website, and is achieved through outstanding academic achievement and active involvement within the campus and community.

Applicants were required to submit a comprehensive portfolio consisting of a list of four courses with an explanation of how they impacted their personal and professional lives, a description of activities and organizations at ISU and the community, a project that represents their best work, a critique of their project, an essay focusing on their field of study and five letters of recommendation.

A selection committee made up of ISU Faculty members, previous Bone Scholars and representatives of the Foundation Association and the Alumni Association then judges portfolios.

"The selection committee looks for depth, as well as breadth within students," Kim Pereira, director of the Honors Program, said.

"There are committee members that represent the many ISU colleges, and what is most interesting about the selection is that representatives from another college can judge students beyond their own colleges and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of other students," she added.

This year, there were around 50 to 60 applicants for the Bone Scholarship, according to Pereira.

"For me, being a Bone Scholar feels like a lot of hard work has paid off, but it also honestly just feels like a big compliment from the faculty members involved in my nomination," Jenna Grites, English education major and 2012 Bone Scholar, said. "I work very, very hard at school. So when I was nominated, it felt so great, but also unbelievable."

"It feels amazing to know I’ve made my family, the English department and myself so proud," she added.

"This scholarship has given me an opportunity to reflect on my time here at ISU, a time which was full of fun, surprises and many hurdles," Megan Lawler, biological science major, said. "I know that I, and all other Bone Student Scholars and nominees, should be proud of all their accomplishments and appreciate the fact that there are people who stand behind us as people and as scholars."

The twelve other Bone Scholars for 2012-2013 included Ethan Boldt, criminal justice sciences major; Ashley Brown, elementary education major; August Cassens, English publishing major; Mark Donahue, music education major; Danielle Froehlich, bicultural education major; Kasey Gandham, marketing major; Michael Kaschke, general finance major; Maggie Leonard, speech pathology major; Caleb Malik, communication studies major; Nancy O’Neill, music education major; Daniel Rosen, fine arts/art education major and Katherine Wolf, English education major.

Recipients will have their pictures on display at the Bone Student Center along with their names engraved on a plaque on permanent display. They will also be introduced to the selection committee, past and present Bone Scholars and university administrators at a luncheon in September in addition to being recognized at the annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony.