Published: April 22, 2008 12:27 am         

Scholarship named after longtime ISU prof

Charlotte Boener taught science education for 48 years

TERRE HAUTE — Charlotte M. Boener spent more than three decades at Indiana State University preparing college students to become science teachers.

She had been a professor and chairwoman of the Department of Science Education.

She died in December 2006, and left her mark. On Monday, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation announced that Boener has donated more than $1.2 million to create a scholarship fund for ISU.

It is the second-largest individual gift in the foundation’s 17-year-history.

“After dedicating 48 years of her life to teaching, Dr. Boener wanted to leave a legacy that would benefit her two passions — science and education,” said Beth Tevlin, community foundation executive director.

The foundation announced the new Dr. Charlotte M. Boener Scholarship fund to a science class at Sarah Scott Middle School.

Each year, between six and 10 full-tuition scholarships will go to ISU students studying for teaching careers in the areas of elementary- and middle-school science.

The first group of Boener scholars will be announced in a few weeks, Tevlin said.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a U.S. resident; a full-time student in good standing at ISU and have a 3.0 or above cumulative grade-point average. They also must be pursuing an endorsement in science, if the student seeks a career in elementary education, or pursuing a minor in science if the student seeks a career in middle-school education.

Tevlin anticipated most of the scholarships would go to ISU juniors and seniors, although some sophomores might qualify.

Gene Griffin, Boener’s financial adviser, said Boener wanted to make sure that quality science education continued at the elementary- and middle-school settings.

ISU Provost Jack Maynard said that through the scholarship fund, “[Boener] will continue to influence for years and years to come thousands of teachers and students throughout Indiana.”

Boener scholars “will teach our future scientists and physicists,” Maynard said.

Boener retired from ISU in 2000.

Effie Hunt, former dean of ISU’s College of Arts and Sciences, said Boener “was a professional woman who had a dedication to young people.”

The scholarship fund is important “because today, there’s such a need for good science teachers,” Hunt said.

Stan Shimer, a colleague of Boener’s at ISU, described her as a demanding person who set high expectations for her college students.

“She was stern with people,” he said. “People were afraid of her bark … but she didn’t bite.”

She wanted them to be the best students and science teachers they could, said Shimer, who also previously served as director of the ISU science education center.



Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.