For Ohio University, Christmas came two months early.

OU received a total of $6.25 million in a gift from Will and Ann Lee Konneker. Out of that money, $5 million will benefit the Cutler Scholars Program.

In a ceremony outside of Cutler Hall yesterday, OU President Robert Glidden announced the Konnekers' gift for the endowment of 20 scholarships, 19 of which will be Konneker-Cutler Scholarships.

Also, $1 million of the endowment will go toward maintaining the Konneker Alumni Center.

The gift also will provide an additional tuition scholarship for students who are runners-up for the Cutler Scholarship at Ann Lee Konneker's alma mater, Greenfield-McClain High school in Greenfield, Ohio.

The Manasseh Cutler Scholars Program is in its third year at OU and offers recipients a full four-year scholarship, plus room and board, money for books and financing for yearly summer programs.

"The Konnekers' gift doubles the number of scholars to a total of 38," Glidden said at the ceremony.

Heather Baird, a senior Cutler Scholar, spoke about her experience with the program and the Konnekers' generosity.

"I received a magnificent gift from a perfect stranger that will enhance my career and my future," Baird said. "This program has enriched my education and my life tremendously."

Konneker said he hopes the Cutler Scholars Program eventually will have a scholar from all counties in Ohio and continue to reach areas outside of Ohio and the United States.

"(The Cutler Scholars Program) is the best investment I have ever made," Konneker said.

The program is the brainchild of President Emeritus Charles J. Ping, who serves as the director of the program, Cutler Scholars Associate Director of Development Jack Ellis, and Konneker, chairman of the board of governors for the Cutler Scholars Program.

"The Cutler Scholars program is the best non-athletic scholarship at OU," said Herman 'Butch' Hill, university ombudsman and associate director for educational programs.

The Cutler Scholars Web site, http://www.ohiou.edu/~cutler, describes what the selection committee looks for in a scholarship recipient. Scholars must have an excellent academic record, demonstrate personal integrity, a breadth of involvement and achievement and physical stamina, as well as the ability to lead and encourage others.

Potential Cutler Scholars are nominated by personnel at eligible high schools or by members of active OU alumni chapter. Then the nominees are interviewed on campus, and final decisions are made by a selection committee, Hill said.

Cutler Scholars are required to attend weekly seminars that focus on issues targeting the future leaders of society, such as school funding, which was a topic discussed this quarter, Hill said.

As part of the scholarship, students are asked to spend their summers furthering their education. Before the scholar's first year at OU, the student goes on an Outward Bound trip. Each scholar spends a second summer involved in a community service project. The third summer is spent in a business environment and the fourth summer is spent abroad.

"Nineteen scholarships have been awarded since the program began," Ping said. "Thirteen scholars are currently on campus. We have a goal of 200 scholars and $40 million in endowments. This is a long-term goal and will probably not be met for several decades."

Eighteen additional scholars will join the program for next year, Ping said.