Incoming Pacific Lutheran University student Benjamin Hanks, from Enumclaw  High School, has been awarded a prestigious President’s Scholarship worth $22,000 a year – along with the opportunity to earn even more.

PLU offers a number of merit scholarships to recognize academic achievement, leadership and service, as well as the promise of continued success in these areas as a PLU student. The Presidential Scholarships are renewable for three additional years of undergraduate study.

More than 600 incoming freshmen apply for Presidential Scholarships each year and the standards are high: eligible to apply are those who have demonstrated significant leadership and service and have achieved a grade-point average of at least 3.8 or 1,250-plus on the SAT (critical reading and math only) or 28-plus on the ACT.

For the 2014-15 academic year, 160 President’s Scholars were selected. They have been invited to interview on the PLU campus in February to compete for the next level of PLU President’s Scholarships – one of 10 $27,000 per year Harstad Founder’s Scholarships or one of five full-tuition Regents’ Scholarships.

Pacific Lutheran University is a private, liberal-arts university in Tacoma.