Page 23 - Laker Connection Fall 2015

Scholarships Gifts on the Rise Clayton State’s Development Office Celebrates Scholarships
BY KATE TROELSTRA Retention Scholarships
In late April, thanks to the generosity of several donors, Clayton State was excited to announce a $20,000 Retention Scholarship Challenge. The Challenge? To raise an addi- tional $20,000 by June 30, 2015. These gifts would be matched, dollar for dollar, through the Challenge thus creat- ing a $40,000 fund to support students staying in school to complete their degree.
Financial challenges continue to be the number one reason that students give for not completing their college educa- tion. The University has made great strides in the past two years to help students move past this challenge, so they are able to graduate with a college degree – with many of them being the first in their family to do so.
Each fall, 25-30 students end up dropping out for the se- mester, so they can earn enough money to pay for their edu- cation. They have exhausted their financial aid options which means that programs such as HOPE and Pell are no longer possibilities. History shows that many of these stu- dents won’t re-enroll and will never see their dream of a college degree realized.
Thanks to an incredible response from the campus commu- nity, nearly $21,000 was raised successfully meeting the Challenge creating a total pool of $41,000 to support stu- dents staying in school.
Dream Makers Scholarships
Another program committed to making dreams real is the Dream Maker Scholarship Initiative which launched in fall 2013. Now in year two, this program has helped to raise more than $346,322 in support of annual and endowed scholarships ensuring that the University can impact stu- dents both today and long into the future. The dollars raised represents an increase of 109% in two years, but more im-
portantly 175 students have been able to continue their edu- cation. This represents an increase of 60% more students each year.
Two new scholarship endowments were also created, ensur- ing that future students will be able to benefit from the gen- erosity of our donors.
Scholarships, both need-based and merit, continue to be a focus for Clayton State University. Helping students realize their dream of pursuing a college education is an incredible opportunity to shape the future of our community and the world at large. With your help this program will only con- tinue to grow, making it possible to impact even more stu- dents.
It has not been an easy road, but I am proud to say that I am finally nearing com- pletion, and on track to graduate summa cum laude! I am also proud of the example I am setting for my
children and other family members.....You are making a difference in the lives of not only the individual student, but also entire families affected by the graduate and her successes in the present and future.
- Candy, Clayton State Scholarship Student, 2015
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