The recruitment of the fourth class of Wichita State University Dean's Scholars is well under way, and the program has seen its largest applicant pool in its short history.

In the program's charter year in 2007, 40 local high school students applied for the program, with 28 of them coming to Wichita State. This year, 352 students have completed applications for the program and will compete during the next few months for 40 prestigious scholarships.

The Dean's Scholars Program was created in 2007 by Dean of Enrollment Services Christine Schneikart-Luebbe. The program is aimed at attracting some of Wichita's best and brightest to Wichita State through a variety of social and academic programs.

Schneikart-Luebbe is amazed at the growth of the program in such a short time. She said, "These are all very talented students, and I would love nothing more than for all of them to decide that Wichita State is where they want to pursue their education."

Each year three local high schools are selected (a private school, a public school and a suburban school) from the Wichita area, and 10 scholarships are awarded at each school.

There are also 10 at-large scholarships available to any high school senior from the Wichita metropolitan area. Applications were accepted through Aug. 28. All applicants were required to have a 3.25 grade point average and at least a 26 on the ACT.

The applicants will be given a firsthand look into all that Wichita State offers. An announcement of the scholarship winners will come in February 2010.

"These students have clearly been the movers and shakers in their high schools, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months," said Schneikart-Luebbe.

For more information on the Dean's Scholars Program visit www.wichita.edu/deansscholars.