Dr. Henry A. and Ruth R. Loats established a scholarship in the former Business Education and Office Administration Department in 1975 and a second scholarship in the former Industrial Arts Department in 1976. Due to the dissolution of those former departments and the subsequent academic evolution that has occurred at Ball State University, there was a need to re-purpose these scholarships. This led to the new Dr. Henry A. and Ruth R. Loats Scholarship, which was made possible with the help of Linda L. Needham, and Lois L. Schuhrke. Linda and Lois are the daughters of Dr. Henry A. and Ruth R. Loats. They were raised with traditional values including Christian faith, education, music, arts, and philanthropy. Linda and Lois both graduated from Ball State University, and they have been part of the Ball State University family for over seventy years.
Ruth R. Loats was born in Gratis, Ohio. She graduated from Ball State Teachers College in 1933. She was the first of her immediate family to graduate from college. In 1939 she met Henry while she was completing her Master's Degree from the University of Iowa and Henry was also working on his Master's Degree. They were married in Modoc, Indiana in 1940. For the first 21 years of her career, she taught in Columbus, Ohio and Bluffton, Kennard, Modoc, and Muncie, Indiana. She spent the last 23 years of her career as an Associate Professor of Business Education and Office Administration at Ball State University. Prior to retiring in 1975, she enjoyed a 44-year career in teaching. The Christian faith was an integral part of Ruth's life. She was active at the College Avenue United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana where she served as secretary of the Administrative Board and as a member and treasurer of the United Methodist Women. Ruth was also very active in the American Association of University Women (AAUW) where she served as its president of the local chapter and as secretary and treasurer of the state chapter. She was also a member of Pi Lambda Theta, Delta Pi Epsilon, Pi Omega Pi, University Women's Club, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Ruth's special interests included her grandchildren, knitting, gardening, investment club, and making her famous grape jelly.
Henry A. Loats was born in Belmond, Iowa on a 40-acre farm where he grew up with his widowed mother and two sisters. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1938. He also was the first of his immediate family to graduate from college. For the first part of his career, he taught in Orient and Fertile, Iowa as well as Girard, Ohio. He then earned a Master's Degree at the University of Iowa in 1942. Henry served in the Navy for two years during World War II as part of the Pacific Flotilla Fleet. On the very day he was discharged from the Navy on March 18, 1946, he began his teaching career at Ball State Teachers College in the Industrial Arts Department. While teaching at Ball State he completed a doctorate of philosophy degree at Ohio State University in 1950. Henry spent the last 32 years of his career as a Professor of Industrial Education and Technology at Ball State University. Prior to retiring in 1978, he enjoyed a 40-year career in teaching. His Christian faith was an integral part of Henry's life. He was active at the College Avenue United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana where he was past chairman of the Board of Trustees. Henry was president of the American Council of Elementary School Industrial Arts, active in the American and Indiana Industrial Arts Association, American Council for Industrial Arts Teacher Education, Phi Delta Kappa, and Epsilon Pi Tau Henry's special interests included his grandchildren, lapidary, ceramics, gardening, fishing and golf. Together, Ruth and Henry enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, the Holy Land, and Russia. They were avid supporters of all things Ball State including Ball State football and basketball, WIPB, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Ball State theatre, Cardinal Varsity Club and the President's Club.
The purpose of the Dr. Henry A. and Ruth R. Loats Scholarship is to provide support for Ball State University student(s) pursuing the Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education and/or the Director of Career and Technical Education license with the following preferences:
a. The student(s) must at least be enrolled on a part-time basis pursuing a Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education and/or the Director of Career and Technical Education license:
b. For the incoming student(s), a cumulative GPA of 3.5 from the undergraduate institution must be verified and the award will be used during the first semester of study and may be renewed for the
subsequent semester of study if the student(s) continue in the program and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5. A student may receive the award for a maximum of two semesters.
c. For the current student(s), a cumulative GPA of 3.5 must be verified and the award will be used during the next semester of study and may be renewed for the subsequent semester of study if the
student(s) continue in the program and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5. A student may receive the award for a maximum of two semesters.
d. Total award amount per year is a minimum of $4,000 to be given as two $1,000 awards to two students per semester.
e. The award will be determined by the CICS Center Director and the Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education Program Director. The student(s) will submit answers outlining the following (1000 word minimum):
i. Statement describing your professional background
ii. Statement describing your professional goals upon completion of the Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education and/or the Director of Career and Technical Education License
iii. Statement describing the impact you will have on the lives of learners and the estimated number of lives you will touch through your future professional endeavors upon completion of the Master of Arts in Career and Technical Education and/or the Director of Career and Technical Education License
iv. Statement explaining why you have limited financial resources
f. For more information about the scholarship, contact Dr. Edward J. Lazaros at ejlazaros@bsu.edu. Applications will be accepted January-February. Materials are due by 11:59 p.m. on the last business day of February. Only scholarship awardees will be contacted.
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