First-gen Haley Farris is Realizing the Dream at Manchester
Realizing a dream takes commitment, hard work and, most often, a helping hand from family, teachers and others.
That is exactly what 30 first-generation students from Indiana’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities were celebrated for on Nov. 4 at the 28th annual Independent Colleges of Indiana Realizing the Dream banquet.
The Manchester University recipient is sophomore Haley Farris of Sharpsville, Ind., who is majoring in athletic training.
She was the 2016 valedictorian at Tri-Central High School and is a member of MU’s women’s basketball team, a Spartan Ambassador and a member of the Students Today Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) Club. Farris is on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and recruiting secretary for Manchester University baseball.
Her volunteer service includes the annual MU Walk Into My Future event for elementary school students, Grand Spartans visits to Timbercrest Senior Living Community and Habitat for Humanity.
“I was very honored to be chosen as MU’s recipient,” Farris said. “It’s a great feeling when I️ know all my hard work in the classroom pays off. I took high school very seriously, and I just thought going to college was the thing most students did so to me making my decision to further my education was natural. I enjoy going to school because it really is a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and gain practical skills for the real world.”
Each honored student received $2,500 to help with college costs, and each student’s selected “most influential” teacher received a $1,000 professional development grant. Farris selected Carrie Shortridge of Tri-Central High School.
One out of every four students at Manchester is first-generation, made possible in large part by financial aid, combined with state and federal grants.
Now sophomores, the honorees have realized the dream of being the first in their families to go to college, have been selected by their colleges for outstanding achievement in their freshman year, and are successfully advancing toward completing their bachelor’s degrees.
“We are so grateful to the Lilly Endowment for making this inspirational program possible,” said David Wantz, ICI president and CEO.
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About Manchester University
Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers more than 60 areas of academic study to nearly 1,600 students in undergraduate programs, a Master of Athletic Training, a
Master of Pharmacogenomics and a four-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy. It has students from 20 nations and is home to the world's first undergraduate peace studies program, established in 1948. Learn more about the private, northern Indiana school at
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November 2017