Dr. James S. Ruebel graduated from Finneytown High School in Cincinnati in 1962 and attended Yale University for his undergraduate studies. After completing his master’s and doctorate degrees in classics from the University of Cincinnati, he earned a professorship at the University of Minnesota. In 1978 he joined the Iowa State University faculty, where he worked as an educator and administrator until he became dean of the Ball State University Honors College in 2000, where he served for 17 years.
Dr. Ruebel was a long-standing member of the National Collegiate Honors Council Board and served as President in 2014. In 1994 he received an American Philological Association Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Classics. He published articles on Roman history and was the author of Apuleius: The Metamorphoses, Book 1 (2000) and Caesar and the Crisis of the Roman Aristocracy (1994).
Dr. Ruebel was a lifelong teacher, learner, and mentor to countless students. His legacy of honors and academic rigor will live on through them and their accomplishments.
In honor of Dr. Ruebel’s service and scholarship, the Mid East Honors Association invites students to apply for the annual James S. Ruebel Memorial Scholarship, an award of $1000 to be given to a selected student. Focusing on academic endeavor as well as community engagement, the scholarship committee seeks to foster an Honors student who invests time and talent in his or her campus community.
Student applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in an Honors program that is a current (2022-2023 academic year) MEHA member.
- Applicant must be a full time student with a GPA of 3.25 or higher.
- Applicant provides proof of a strong record of service in his or her college/university community.
- Applicant is endorsed by his or her Honors program director/chairperson/dean.
Application materials checklist:
- A 500-word personal statement highlighting university and community service achievements/activities. The first page header should list the student’s university, majors, minors, year in college, name of Honors dean/chair/administrator, and projected graduation date.
- Current curriculum vitae or résumé.
- A copy of an unofficial transcript, either PDF or image.
- Letter of recommendation from the applicant’s Honors director/chairperson/dean. This letter should be written on official letterhead, signed, and submitted by the administrator directly to honors@mideasthonors.org.
All application materials, except for the letter of recommendation, should be submitted in digital format no later than April 21, 2023, using the google form linked below.