A new scholarship and internship program for minority students in the College of Business involves three Chicago-area freshmen as the first participants in the program.

The program offers four-year scholarships of $2,000 each, assigns counselors for the students and organizes regular meetings with College of Business faculty members and administrators.

Richard Brown, College of Business dean said, “The idea (for the program) actually began late last spring. It became obvious to us in the College of Business that we were not getting as many minority students in the College of Business as we should have.”

The program hopes to recruit students with high ACT scores and high class ranks to participate in the program. Brown said he hopes to have 10 students in the Talented Minority Program next fall.

The three recipients of the scholarships for this fall are Erika Bryan, 12648 S. Wallace, Chicago; Andria Davis, 4235 W. Cullerton Ave., Chicago; and Eric Williams, 13700 S. Keeler St., Crestwood.

Brown said the program is funded through corporate support with most of the money coming from foundations, such as the Sears Foundation. He said for next year he has four scholarships of $8,000 each and still wants to get six more scholarships.

The committee that chose the students for the fall semester was made up of Brown, Assistant Dean Wayne Albrecht, Monique Bernoudy, undergraduate academic counselor for the College of Business and various department chairmen. Brown said he would like to involve faculty from other departments.

Brown said getting into the College of Business is “competitive” as a junior with a requirement of a 2.75 GPA. Therefore, the program wants to attract minorities in the upper third of their class rank with high ACT scores so “they can come here and be successful.”

Other credentials that the committee looks for in the prospective students are leadership and work experience in high school.