Scholarships cover full tuition, room and board, books and fees for four years
DANVILLE, Ky. (March 7, 2016) — Centre College has named Robert Schalkoff director of its new Lincoln Scholars Program, effective July 5.
Schalkoff currently overseas Yamaguchi Prefectural University (YPU) in Japan. There he is in charge of the program for the Development of Global Talent and serves as a faculty member in the Department of Intercultural Studies.
“The donors specified that this prestigious scholarship be offered to students who possess the capacity and deep desire to change the world,” Centre president John A. Roush said. “We are fortunate to have found in Robert someone with a truly global perspective.”
Schalkoff has nearly 20 years experience in higher education, the last six of which he served as director of two university-wide programs, and more than 25 years of international experience.
A native of East Hanover, N.J., Schalkoff earned his bachelor of science degree in music education at Lebanon Valley College. He later added a master of arts in teaching from the School for International Training and is a doctoral candidate for the doctor of education degree at Northern Illinois University. His dissertation topic is “Internationalization in faculty members in higher education.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity not only to become a member of the Centre community but also to engage in the rewarding activity of building a program of lasting significance at an institution I know and respect,” Schalkoff said. “The challenge and promise of this endeavor are very exciting,” he added, “and I am prepared to devote all my energy to working with this extraordinary group of students and building the program into national prominence.”
Schalkoff has worked closely with the College since 2001, helping build a vibrant and lasting student exchange between YPU and Centre.
Working with Centre’s Milton Reigelman, director of the Center for Global Citizenship, Schalkoff also helped create faculty and staff exchanges beginning in 2009.
The Lincoln Scholars Program at Centre College was made possible by an anonymous donor whose $20 million challenge gift created the full-ride-plus scholarship program that will begin in the fall of 2016 with 10 inaugural recipients. Ten additional Lincoln Scholars will be selected for each subsequent entering class, with 40 Lincoln Scholars enrolled by the fall of 2019.
In addition to covering full tuition, room and board, books and fees for four years, Lincoln Scholars will also receive three summers of enrichment experiences beginning their sophomore year for study abroad, internships or undergraduate research.
The scholarship is named for the Kentucky native and 16th president of the U.S., whose first law partner was Centre alumnus John Todd Stuart, Class of 1826. A statue by Louisville artist Ed Hamilton of a young Lincoln holding a law book lent to him by Stuart, who encouraged his studies, stands outside of Centre’s Crounse Hall.
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