As more families face financial insecurity due to COVID-19, donor support of scholarships will be essential to help students pursue their educational aspirations at 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ. today.
By Emily Glory Peters
From the nationally recognized caliber of our academic programs to the friendship-forging power of our intimate campus, there are many reasons students are drawn to the 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ experience. Maintaining what makes 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ special for students, shares 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ Vice President of Enrollment Victoria Romero, has been a chief concern for her and her team as 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ has monitored the impact of the pandemic on our community. Yet, as the economy has seesawed over the last few months, itβs become apparent that an increasing number of students will be at risk of having to forego their 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ aspirations.
βOur students and their families are facing intense financial uncertainty,β says Romero. βWith the economy so taxed, some parents have lost their jobs, while students are struggling to find work. Theyβre nervous and scared about the future of their education.β
51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ has been able to offer some relief to families currently unable to complete their tuition payment due to the loss of a job, and Romeroβs team is already in the process of reviewing studentsβ financial aid for the upcoming academic year. βWeβve already been seeing an increase in families requesting aid in the last few years,β she says. βWe fully expect that to rise with the full outcome of the pandemic.β
A Broader Range of Students Will Likely Need Scholarship Support
More than half of 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ students receive scholarships as part of their financial aid packages. In a move towards offering enrollment to all deserving students regardless of their financial background, 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ launched the Presidential Scholarship Initiative in 2017 with the goal of raising $10 million to establish endowed scholarships. Multiple generous donors have propelled the College closer to that goal, with their gifts already helping to attract gifted students who may have chosen not to apply to 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ due to cost. But further support is needed.
βIn addition to students with higher financial needs, we worry about those middle-income families whose income has remained static or decreased due to COVID-19. Giving to scholarships now not only helps students immediately, but helps the College establish long-term financial support even in times of economic instability,β Romero says.
As a first-generation student who attended a small liberal arts college thanks to scholarship aid, Romero bears personal witness to the impact of donor generosity. This is the same generosity, she shares, that unlocks doors for high-achieving students to fully immerse themselves in all that 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ has to offerβand to come into their own as leaders in times of crisis.
βItβs more important than ever that liberal arts colleges survive and flourish, because the world will continue to change, and 51ΑΤΖζΘλΏΪ graduates are flexible, analytical, and compassionate. They leave college with the ability to look at the world through multiple lenses and tackle challenges with the determination to make a difference for others,β says Romero. βIn times like these, thatβs what I look for in a leader. When you give to scholarships, thatβs what youβre empowering.β
By giving to scholarships, you build the bridge between deserving students and the remarkable achievements ahead of them. On , consider making a gift to this critical area by clicking
Interested in learning more? Check out our latest giving and impact news here.