Three SIUC students said they have the self-confidence and the inspiration to move on to bigger and better things as they walked away with the American Drug Store Minority Scholarship.

Joe Richmond, Jerry Cliff and Erica King received $500 each for having an interest in retail management.

Bobbie Riley, the director of Recruiting and College Relations from Osco Drug, a division of American Drug Stores and the third largest retailer in the country, said the $500 scholarships were awarded to each of the three students because the students possessed the qualities and skills for retail management.

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These students do not have to major in retail management, but they have to have good communication skills, leadership rolls, campus activity and good academic background, Riley said.

Riley said Osco Drug has three requirements for students applying for the scholarship.

She said the scholarship committee expects the students to write an essay explaining their interest in retail management, a recommendation by their professor and an interview with the applicants.

Riley said the awareness of this scholarship is fairly low because Osco Drug introduced it last spring. She also said the scholarship contains general requirements but expects those to change.

As awareness of the scholarship becomes larger, we’ll have more specifics requested, Riley said.

Karen Benz, the placement counselor for University Career Services, said Career Services mailed information about the scholarship to student organizations and posted fliers throughout campus. She said she plans to do more the next time in order to expand awareness.

We’ll work through the colleges to try and make students become more aware of the opportunity, Benz said.

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Joe Richmond, a senior in architectural technology from Chicago, said he heard about the scholarship through the fliers on campus and thought he would give it his best shot by doing background research.

To be honest, all the scholarship committee can do is say no, but I thought I would try it anyway, Richmond said. I obtained research on Osco Drug, including its annual report and company literature, through University Career Services.

Jerry Cliff, an undecided sophomore from Memphis, said he applied for this scholarship because it pushed him closer to what he wants to do for a living.

I enjoy the career style, including traveling, dressing the part and the responsibility of managing people, Cliff said.

Erica King, a sophomore in marketing/entrepreneurship from Chicago, said she fit the profile by having the required grade point average and being involved in various organizations related to retail management.

I am the secretary of Blacks Interested in Business (BIB) and a member of the College of Business and Administration (COBA), King said. These organizations teach me the leadership skills which helps me become more involved with the University.

King said the scholarship will help her go beyond what she thought she could not handle before.

I was intimidated at first that the scholarship had limited requirements, King said. But when I won the award, I got more encouragement and wanted to do better.