Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) students who are accepted to Indiana University (IU) Indianapolis now have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance through the Lacy and Patricia Johnson Scholars Scholarship. This initiative follows a generous $2.8 million donation from IU alumni Lacy M. Johnson and his wife Patricia.

The scholarship will provide up to $5,000 annually to five IPS graduates. Dr. Aleesia Johnson, IPS superintendent, expressed her gratitude: “Attending college is a critical step for our students to unlock their full potential and make a lasting impact on our community.” She added that the collaboration with IU Indianapolis through the Seamless Admissions program is transformative.

IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand highlighted the importance of this scholarship: “This scholarship fund exemplifies a profound commitment to educational access in multiple ways — not only will it empower students from Indianapolis Public Schools to join our university, but it will also help them relate to role models like the Johnsons who inspire us all.”

Lacy and Patricia Johnson emphasized their ongoing commitment: “We remain committed to providing opportunities for IPS students to pursue their higher education goals and are pleased to partner with IU Indianapolis on this scholarship program.”

Lacy Johnson is a partner at Taft, which has supported Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58 since 2011 by contributing nearly $2 million for after-school programs and compassionate care assistance. The Johnsons have also funded scholarships for minority students in STEM and business programs across IU’s campuses.

IPS students interested in attending IU Indianapolis are encouraged to apply for scholarships via the IU Scholarships portal. The longstanding partnership between IPS and IU Indianapolis includes the Seamless Admissions program, which offers automatic admission to qualifying IPS seniors.

Around 350 IPS seniors from the Class of 2025 have qualified for seamless admission next fall. Initially piloted at four high schools, this program now encompasses all high schools within the IPS Innovation Network, simplifying access to higher education for many students.