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Dallas A&M Club funds scholarship
Group supports Dallas-area students, first generation Aggies
By: Katy Ralston
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
Though universities across the nation have recieved less in monetary donations, the Dallas A&M Club has raised $100,000 to assist students in the Dallas area.
Dallas A&M Club President Holly Pritchard recapped fundraising efforts leading up to the $100,000 Regents' Scholarship endowment.
"Every year we have fundraisers supported by former Aggies in the Dallas area, such as a crawfish boil, coach's night, golf tournaments and our annual Chili Bowl," Pritchard said. "These fundraisers, along with member and sponsor donations, made this endowment possible."
The club has become the fifth donor to the Regents' Scholars program. The program began in 2004 to help first generation college students from families with an income of less than $40,000 a year, said Director of Development for Scholarship Programs Jody Ford.
Since its beginning, 2,000 students have been supported as Regents' Scholars, with 600 freshmen added each year.
In order to endow a Regents' Scholarship, the organization or individual must give $100,000, which can be payable over a period of five years.
"This donation can be funded through cash, stock, real estate or provided for in an individual's will," Ford said.
This scholarship will fund one Regents' Scholar throughout their college career with payments of $5,000 a year for four years, as long as they continue to meet the satisfactory academic requirements. The requirements are passing 75 percent of coursework and maintaining a 2.0 GPR.
Regents' Scholarship Coordinator Suzanne Sealey said recipients are required to live on campus their freshman year, participate in academic success programs such as learning communities and attend an orientation developed by upperclassmen Regents' scholars.
"These requirements are all about putting the resources in their hands. As first generation college students they may not be aware of the opportunities offered," Sealey said. "We have monthly newsletters and mentoring to provide them with this knowledge."
She said the academic environment the learning communities supply is crucial to recipients' success. Students who participate in these academic programs gain higher GPRs than students who do not.
"The Regents' Scholars program has opened doors I could not open by myself. This program has removed some of my financial and academic barriers, allowing me to be more successful," said Regents' scholar Tiffany Smith, a freshman biology major.
The donors also benefit from these scholarships. As a part of the Texas A&M Foundation, Ford works closely with the donors and addresses the impact giving has on them.
"These donors are giving out of passion and to see an impact in these students. They want to see them grow and be productive members of society," Ford said. "Donors hope their recipients look fondly on their time at A&M and one day support future Aggies in a similar way."
Pritchard said the Dallas A&M Club plans on maintaining contact with the student who receives their endowed scholarship to help facilitate and encourage their academic success.
"With this scholarship we are hoping to support someone who may not have other options to fund their college education and that the recipient will inspire other students in our area," she said.
The scholarship endowed by the Dallas A&M Club will be given to a Dallas County high school senior who qualifies for financial need and demonstrates outstanding extracurricular activities and academic excellence.
Scholar info
To read more about life as a Regents' Scholar check out the Regents' Scholar blog at financialaid.tamu.edu.
Dallas A&M Club President Holly Pritchard recapped fundraising efforts leading up to the $100,000 Regents' Scholarship endowment.
"Every year we have fundraisers supported by former Aggies in the Dallas area, such as a crawfish boil, coach's night, golf tournaments and our annual Chili Bowl," Pritchard said. "These fundraisers, along with member and sponsor donations, made this endowment possible."
The club has become the fifth donor to the Regents' Scholars program. The program began in 2004 to help first generation college students from families with an income of less than $40,000 a year, said Director of Development for Scholarship Programs Jody Ford.
Since its beginning, 2,000 students have been supported as Regents' Scholars, with 600 freshmen added each year.
In order to endow a Regents' Scholarship, the organization or individual must give $100,000, which can be payable over a period of five years.
"This donation can be funded through cash, stock, real estate or provided for in an individual's will," Ford said.
This scholarship will fund one Regents' Scholar throughout their college career with payments of $5,000 a year for four years, as long as they continue to meet the satisfactory academic requirements. The requirements are passing 75 percent of coursework and maintaining a 2.0 GPR.
Regents' Scholarship Coordinator Suzanne Sealey said recipients are required to live on campus their freshman year, participate in academic success programs such as learning communities and attend an orientation developed by upperclassmen Regents' scholars.
"These requirements are all about putting the resources in their hands. As first generation college students they may not be aware of the opportunities offered," Sealey said. "We have monthly newsletters and mentoring to provide them with this knowledge."
She said the academic environment the learning communities supply is crucial to recipients' success. Students who participate in these academic programs gain higher GPRs than students who do not.
"The Regents' Scholars program has opened doors I could not open by myself. This program has removed some of my financial and academic barriers, allowing me to be more successful," said Regents' scholar Tiffany Smith, a freshman biology major.
The donors also benefit from these scholarships. As a part of the Texas A&M Foundation, Ford works closely with the donors and addresses the impact giving has on them.
"These donors are giving out of passion and to see an impact in these students. They want to see them grow and be productive members of society," Ford said. "Donors hope their recipients look fondly on their time at A&M and one day support future Aggies in a similar way."
Pritchard said the Dallas A&M Club plans on maintaining contact with the student who receives their endowed scholarship to help facilitate and encourage their academic success.
"With this scholarship we are hoping to support someone who may not have other options to fund their college education and that the recipient will inspire other students in our area," she said.
The scholarship endowed by the Dallas A&M Club will be given to a Dallas County high school senior who qualifies for financial need and demonstrates outstanding extracurricular activities and academic excellence.
Scholar info
To read more about life as a Regents' Scholar check out the Regents' Scholar blog at financialaid.tamu.edu.
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