Luddy Scholars: Marketing: Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering: Indiana University Bloomington

Pioneers and scholars

Some paths are blazed by necessity. Others are made by choice.

Those who choose to be trailblazers are the braver of the two.

Twelve students in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering made the choice to become the first Luddy Scholars, the premier undergraduate scholarship program at the Luddy School. Funded by part of a transformative, $60 million gift from Fred Luddy and awarded to high-achieving students from the state of Indiana, the Luddy Scholars program provides exclusive opportunities for students to interact with tech leaders, faculty, and alumni to help them on their career path.

But it gives the students an opportunity to do so much more.

“I’m excited for all the different opportunities I’m given as a Luddy Scholar, said Anna Kim, who is majoring in computer science. “I already have a research opportunity set up starting next month, and it’s reassuring to know that you have the support from the Luddy Scholars program for future research opportunities. Being a Luddy Scholar also allows me to join a community of other students focused on academics and interested in pursuing careers in technology.

The Luddy Scholars come from every area of Indiana, bringing a variety of perspectives and experiences to the group. Esfan Haghverdi, the executive associate dean for undergraduate education at the Luddy School, teaches an exclusive class for the Luddy Scholars, and he has been impressed with the group’s academic excellence as well as their range of activities.

“You expect students like this to really excel, and I believe they will, Haghverdi says. “But they really are holistic students. Every one of them plays an instrument or has been involved in some sport. Certainly, some of that is by design since we didn’t just look at academic excellence when selecting students, but this group is really attentive to what is going on in their community. They are the types of students who really bring everything together.

Haghverdi’s class is focusing on developing problem-solving and logical thinking skills, and the group is reading the book, “The Master Switch by Tim Wu, which examines the rise and fall of information empires over the past 150 years.

“The book is a great introduction for them to the world of technology, Haghverdi says. “It shows them how great communication technologies grow and go through the cycle of boost and bust, and it’s important to recognize the signs that the different phases are happening.

The Luddy Scholars also have the opportunity to interact with invited speakers both from inside the school and from industry. The speakers, who are appearing virtually due to the COVID-19 outbreak, are providing advice on life skills, such as time management, career readiness, etc., as well as career development, allowing the students to see the academic and professional perspectives of technology.

“The Luddy Scholars program has already helped me through its interaction with faculty, says Colin LeFevre, who is majoring in informatics. “Even being able to interact with Professor Haghverdi in a one-on-one, seminar format has been a fantastic learning opportunity that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to. I’m looking forward to hearing from other faculty and industry speakers who have been invited.

You expect students like this to really excel, and I believe they will.
Esfan Haghverdi - Executive Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

In a post-COVID world, Haghverdi hopes to hold lunches with the students during the semester, and there will be community service components to the group’s experience. The Luddy Scholars are also learning how to network with their peers and set an example for their classmates.

“The Luddy Scholar program helps me connect to other students in Luddy with the same interests and priorities as me, says Elaine Dorsey, who is majoring in informatics. “My small class of Luddy Scholars has been a helpful resource for questions and connections as I navigate through the beginning of my freshman year. I hope my class makes an impact as the first Luddy Scholars by being role models for Luddy Scholars to come, and I want other students to be inspired to work hard to achieve this award, too.

Another critical aspect of the Luddy Scholars experience is the opportunity to conduct research with faculty mentors.

“Encounters with faculty, doing research with faculty, starting an early research program in a solid way with faculty will keep them oriented in that direction and allow them to maximize their chances for success, Haghverdi says. “The connections made in a research setting will stay with them throughout their undergraduate careers and beyond. It’s just an invaluable experience.

The inaugural class of Luddy Scholars are just in the first few months of their freshman year, but their biggest impact on the school will come down the road.

“When the time comes to send them out into the world, whether they start their careers or go to grad school, the Luddy Scholars will build the reputation of the Luddy School because they will be ambassadors,” Haghverdi says. “They will have gotten the best we have to offer. They are best positioned to absorb everything we have to offer, and the delivery of all that education into the workforce or academic positions they will be holding in the future will spread our name and our reputation to the world at large. We believe these will be highly successful people in their positions 10-20 years after graduation. We hope that every year we’ll be creating 10-12 more future Fred Luddys.”

The pioneers may be young, but they feel the weight of what they’re accomplishing.

“We all worked so hard to be recognized with the honor of being in this class and to be such an important part of Luddy History, Dorsey says. “It just means so much to be part of this first class.

LeFevre agrees.

“Being part of the inaugural class of Luddy Scholars is an honor,” LeFevre says. “The support of the Luddy School through the Scholars program gives me the freedom to better define my collegiate experience—adding a second major, pursuing internships in areas I am passionate about, etc.—and if I want to be known for anything, it would be that I engaged with my four years at IU to the fullest extent possible.”