Jabara scholarships given to two high school seniors

Two high school students are winners of the 2010 Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University.

Matthew Helmick, a senior at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Alex Pemberton, a senior at Fort Scott High School in Fort Scott, Kan., are the recipients.

The scholarship, one of the most prestigious at WSU and one of the largest entrepreneurship scholarships nationally, awards each recipient $20,000 over four years. To compete, a student must have a minimum ACT score of 24, a GPA of 3.5 or better and be a declared entrepreneurship major.

Helmick plans to major in entrepreneurship and marketing while at Wichita State.

At his high school, Helmick has earned many awards at science and technology expositions. He also has numerous awards in district and state competitions for DECA, an international association of high school and college students studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service.

Helmick also is heavily involved in bowling as team captain for two years on the varsity bowling team.

Pemberton, who plans to major in entrepreneurship at WSU, has earned honors and awards in debate and forensics, as well as in baseball and basketball as is a member of both varsity teams.

His school activities include student council, Principal’s Leadership team and Future Business Leaders of America.

Pemberton works 22 hours a week at City State Bank and Bandera Stone Inc.

The Jabara Scholarship was established in 1998 and is named for Fran Jabara, former dean of the College of Business Administration at WSU.

Along with the financial benefits, winners also are mentored by Jabara during their stay at the university.