EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Ella Keena, of Walled Lake, Mich., is one of 21 students to receive the Presidential Scholarship at Eastern Michigan University for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The Presidential Scholarship is a four-year award that pays for 30 credit hours per year of in-state tuition, housing, a food allowance and mandatory fees.

During her four years at EMU, Ella will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering and is currently exploring options for a minor.

When she was at Walled Lake Central High School, Ella ran a foosball club, was an active member of the National Honor Society, and competed on the varsity cross country, tennis, and basketball teams.

Ella also volunteered to coach basketball teams and camps for children and took side jobs tutoring and cleaning houses in addition to working at Taco Bell.

After she graduates from EMU, Ella plans to find a job as a mechanical engineer and pursue an MBA degree.

Presidential Scholars are selected during Eastern Michigan University’s Presidential Scholarship Competition, held in December during a student’s senior year of high school. Awards are highly competitive and based on many factors, including an essay and multiple rounds of interviews. To qualify for the competition, high school seniors must have at least a 3.5 GPA and a minimum of a 25 ACT or 1130 SAT.

For more information, please visit the Presidential Scholarship website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.