Kauffman Foundation invests $79 million in new college scholarship program

Jared Antonio Hoskins knows exactly where he'll be one minute after midnight Jan. 2 — sitting in front of his computer applying for a new $50,000 college scholarship that was launched Wednesday evening by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Details about KC Scholars, a three-tiered scholarship and college-savings program designed to carry forward a Kauffman mission to help low- and modest-income families complete a higher education, went online at 8 p.m. Wednesday. But student applications won't be accepted until after the first of next year.

The foundation announced it is investing $79 million into the scholarship program during an event at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate what would have been Ewing Marion Kauffman's 100th birthday.

Hoskins, a junior at Kansas City's Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, learned about the scholarship Wednesday afternoon, minutes before leaving school for the day. Clutching a blue brochure with scholarship requirements folded inside, a broad smile crossed his face. It's just what he needs, he said, to make the impossible, possible.

"Going to college ... I've always known it wouldn't be easy," the 16-year-old said. He comes from a low-income family and early in his life moved from foster home to foster home. These days, though, he is back living with his biological mother, a twin brother and two other siblings.

"We've had our share of hardship," Hoskins said. "My family gets food stamps, and still a lot of times we can't make it to the end of the month."

Hoskins said he hopes to become a doctor some day — either civilian or military — but without a scholarship his goal might be out of reach, he said.

The teen, who in middle school was a national debate champion, has a 3.5 GPA and has already picked out his 10 top schools, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Missouri.

It's a good thing both schools are among the list of 17 two- and four-year Missouri and Kansas colleges that have partnered with KC Scholars to provide academic support to any selected scholar who attends their institution. Scholarship winners would have to attend one of the partner institutions.

KC Scholars is the third college scholarship program the Kauffman Foundation has invested in.

In 1988, Ewing Kauffman launched Project Choice at Westport High School, and then in 2003 the foundation rolled out Kauffman Scholars, a 19-year-long program that funds a college education for students who qualified for the program in middle school. Currently, there are 1,013 "active" Kauffman Scholars. That program ends in 2022.

While the Kauffman Foundation is putting $79 million over 10 years into the new scholarship program, this effort has broader community input, said Wendy Guillies, president and CEO of the foundation.

"This is not a Kauffman scholarship program," Guillies said. "It is a Kansas City community program."

She said the foundation's contribution is "only the beginning." Guillies said the foundation expects millions of dollars from the community will be contributed down the road to fund KC Scholars for many years.

The program was designed with input from 70 people from the community. Next year, it will move into the community as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization independent of the foundation, said Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, director of KC Scholars.

Community members worked for a year to design the scholarship program, Tankersley-Bankhead said. "And we want it to be broadly community-owned all the way," she said.

She said the scholarship program was designed with a focus toward addressing a national challenge brought by the Obama administration to raise the percentage of Americans with some post-secondary, credentialed education from 42 percent to 65 percent by 2020. By then, two out of three jobs will require some college education.

"We feel like KC Scholars and Kauffman Scholars will significantly move the needle in terms of bringing talent back to the community so that they can make a difference in the community," Guillies said.

When KC Scholars is running full scale, it will be serving 2,000 students, Tankersley-Bankhead said.

KC Scholars offers three scholarship opportunities:

▪ A traditional scholarship of up to $10,000 a year for five years that would be awarded to 11th grade students with at least a 2.5 GPA.

▪ A scholarship of up to $5,000 a year for five years for adults 24 and older.

▪ A college-savings match that will begin in ninth grade for students who kept at least a 2.5 GPA through seventh and eighth grades.

Whatever the selected students put into their KC Scholars college savings plan will be matched four-to-one up to $5,000, and those students who also meet certain college-ready milestones could get another $2,000 to put toward school.

Hoskins was so excited about the scholarship opportunity he said he would be ready to start writing required essays as soon as the details go online.

"I don't see any reason why one of the people who get these scholarships can't be me," he said. "My mother always said impossible is the possible thing that no man has dared to try yet."

 
Source: Kauffman Foundation invests $79 million in new college scholarship program

Colleges’ assessments of scholarships can set back students in need

Private scholarships awarded by companies and philanthropic organizations to low-income students are intended to help close the gap between what they have and what they need to cover the cost of higher education.

But many colleges factor scholarships into the overall equation and reduce the amount of financial aid a student is eligible for – dollar for dollar – leaving the student no better off.

While the scholarship money itself is not reduced, colleges will reduce the amount of need-based financial aid the student receives, said Mark Kantrowitz, a college funding expert based in Chicago.

"Colleges have the discretion of reducing loans or grants," he said. "About 80 percent of them reduce loans first. But about 20 percent of them reduce grants first. If they reduce loans, your net price goes down, which is a financial benefit. However, if they reduce grants, your net price doesn't change and there is no net financial benefit from receiving scholarships."

The practice is known as "award displacement." It occurs when one form of financial aid, such as a private scholarship, leads to a reduction of other forms of financial aid.

The University of Pittsburgh is one school that has taken a stance against award displacement.

"We believe that earned private scholarships intended to reduce a student's financial need should be used for that purpose," said Randy McCready, director of financial aid. "The only time the University of Pittsburgh practices scholarship displacement is when the total amount of awards combined with institutional scholarship or grants exceeds cost of attendance."

Financial aid is calculated based on information that students and parents provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA.

The financial aid staff uses that information to decide the student's cost of attendance at that school. Then the staff members consider the family's expected contribution. They subtract the family's expected contribution from the student's cost of attendance to determine the amount of the student's financial need, and therefore how much need-based aid the student can receive.

For instance, if the cost of attending the college is $6,000 and the family's expected contribution is $2,000, the student will not be eligible for more than $4,000 in need-based aid. Students must report all private scholarships on their FAFSA. If the scholarship is awarded after the FAFSA is filed, the need-based aid is recalculated to determine how much aid the student should receive.

Duquesne University, also in Pittsburgh, does practice a form of award displacement, according to Richard Esposito, director of financial aid, enrollment management group.

"Duquesne University does not reduce the amount of university-based scholarship funds if a student receives outside scholarship funds," he said. "but may do an adjustment to any need-based aid – such as government loans, work study and university need-based grants – if their need is reduced."

Students hurt the most by this practice tend to be low-income students who qualify for need-based federal, state and institutional financial aid.

Kantrowitz explained that Pell Grant awards from the federal government, which are allocated to students based on need, are one form of financial aid that colleges cannot reduce in response to private scholarships.

The maximum Pell Grant for the 2015-16 school year is $5,775. The amount students get depends on financial need, the costs to attend to school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and the student's plans to attend school for full academic year or less, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Many colleges and universities publish their policies on scholarship displacement on their websites. Students who plan to attend a particular college should find out what the school's policy is so they will know how to handle it, Kantrowitz said.

"Students and parents also can call the scholarship provider if they believe the scholarship funds have been displaced," he said. "The scholarship provider may have more leverage."

The goal of scholarships, he noted, is to help with the financial pressure of paying for college.

"If the college is just taking the money with no benefit to the student, that's something they would want to know about. The scholarship provider could put pressure on the school to stop the practice, especially if several students are affected."

Source: Colleges' assessments of scholarships can set back students in need

Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Announces Online Hunger Squad Competition featuring the Five National 2016 Stephen J. Brady Scholars

Voters are eligible to cast their ballots online via the Sodexo Insights blog once a day from September 26th until October 2nd. The winner will be announced on October 3rd.

The national scholarship honorees comprise students from fifth grade to college. Their hunger fighting activities include building community gardens, mobilizing volunteers, recovering surplus food, stocking food pantries and more.

"Since 2007, we have recognized more than 200 students who help fight hunger in their communities," said Robert A. Stern, president, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. "The Foundation has provided $629,000 in scholarships and grants, supporting students diligently working to end the plight of hunger, which affects nearly 42 million Americans."

The Hunger Squad members are:

Ian McKenna Goncalo, Austin, TX – Ian created The Giving Garden, a program that grows school and community gardens so children in need can take home fresh fruits and vegetables to their families. Ian recruited more than 170 volunteers, raised $8,500, and was able to build 18 raised beds and plant 21 fruit trees. Since 2011, The Giving Garden has produced nearly 2,800 pounds of food for 54 families and the local soup kitchen. Beyond gardening, Ian has hosted cooking demonstrations at area schools and spoken to over 1,000 people about the issue of childhood hunger encouraging other youth to get involved. Vote for Ian to win $5,000 for Katie's Krops.

Hannah Steinberg, Scarsdale, NY –Hannah started Our Coupons Care to channel her passion for couponing to help those in need. Hannah recruited more than 100 volunteers to help her collect and clip coupons to purchase food and nonperishable items for a nearby homeless shelter. She organized a group of her peers for a couponing marathon so that all of the shelter's families could enjoy a home-cooked meal and have plenty of food during the holiday season. Her donations have helped more than 1,800 people. Since 2011, Hannah has raised over $21,500 and purchased over $108,000 worth of goods to help families that have fallen on hard times. Vote for Hannah to win $5,000 for Our Coupons Care.

Brianna LeFran Moore, Oak Park, MI –Brianna is the founder and president of Operation Warm Up/Warm Heart, an organization that focuses on helping those in need of basic necessities. Since 2012, Brianna and her 900 volunteers have served 15,000 children meals through Operation Warm Up/Warm Heart and served nearly 6,000 lunches to children through the "Meet Up and Eat Up" summer meal program. She also started a pancake program providing breakfast for over 5,000 children since 2014,  and collects turkeys, hams and nonperishables during the holidays to donate over 11,000 pounds of food for families in need. Vote for Brianna to win $5,000 for Gleaners Community Food Bank.

Olivia Hodge, Blacksburg, VA –Olivia organized funds and resources to launch the Bruin Snack Closet so children could discreetly get free snacks during school. She also volunteered with Micah's Backpack to deliver 70,000 meals in 2015, and helped to expand the summer meal sites to reach an additional 40 kids. Since 2009, Olivia has helped children access 250,000 meals. Vote for Olivia to win $5,000 for Micah's Backpack.

Jackson Silverman, Charleston, SC – Jackson is the founder of I Heart Hungry Kids, an organization that harnesses "Kid Power" by hosting meals packing parties where kids help kids in need. In 2013, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation provided Jackson with a Global Youth Service Day grant to pack 150 bags of food. What started with one grant has grown into a non-profit with 1,477 volunteers who have provided 86,000 meals for local children and raised over $35,000. Jackson has spoken to more than 2,000 kids about child hunger and hopes to continue his efforts. Vote for Jackson to win $5,000 for I Heart Hungry Kids.

2016 Scholarship Application Period Opens

The Stephen J. Brady Stop Hunger Scholarships is a program of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation that recognizes students who are driving awareness and mobilizing youth to be catalysts for innovative models that provide solutions to eliminate hunger in America. This program will begin accepting new applications from October 5th through December 5th. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in an accredited education institution (kindergarten through graduate school) in the United States and be able to demonstrate an enduring commitment to hunger-relief activities in their community. 

Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was created with the mission to ensure that every child in the United States grows up with dependable access to enough nutritious food to enable them to lead a healthy, productive life. Sodexo, Inc. funds all administrative costs for Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation to ensure that all money raised helps those in need. Since its inception, the Foundation has granted more than $27 million to alleviate child hunger.

Visit the Foundation's website for additional information on how it helps to address childhood hunger.

Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.

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Source: Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Announces Online Hunger Squad Competition featuring the Five National 2016 Stephen J. Brady Scholars

Rhea of Hope Foundation to Host Scholarship Luncheon

ROMEOVILLE, IL, Sept. 25, 2016 – Rhea of Hope Foundation, an organization dedicated to serving at-risk, underserved girls, will host the 12th Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Oct. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bolingbrook Golf Club located at 2001 Rodeo Dr. in Bolingbrook.

A $75 contribution includes a full sit down lunch and an award and scholarship program. There will be a live jazz performance by Christopher Fisher. All proceeds go towards scholarships and funding for Rhea of Hope Foundation programming and mentoring activities.

Those who are interested in attending the Scholarship Luncheon should purchase tickets online at rheaofhopefoundation.org.

"We are so proud of our young men and women who have come through our program," said Dr. Alvenia Rhea Albright, founder of Rhea of Hope. "The students awarded these scholarships are very deserving, and we are confident they will go far in their educational endeavors."

The ROHF Academic scholarship is awarded to a 12th grade female student applying to a two or four-year college or university.

The ROHF Continuing Education Scholarship is awarded to a mother between the ages of 17 and 31 applying to/enrolled in an accredited post-secondary academic or career program, and ROHF Enrichment Opportunity Scholarship for a female student in grades six through 11 applying to a cultural enrichment, leadership, college preparation, or career development program or camp.

The John A. Rhea Scholarship, an scholarship in honor of Albright's deceased brother, is awarded to an African-American male student in grades six through 12 applying to a college or university or a cultural enrichment, leadership, college preparation, or career development program or camp.

The Herbert J. and Elnora Rhea Community Service Award of Excellence is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding volunteer leadership and commitment in addressing the social needs of adolescent girls, young women and young men in their community.

Rhea of Hope Foundation is an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of underserved, at risk adolescent and young women through supportive measures such as mentoring and coaching. Rhea of Hope Foundation also works to expose the girls to a wide variety of cultural, intellectual, spiritual, psychological and economic lessons through activities, field trips, guest speakers and more. Visit www.rheaofhopeofoundation.org for more information.

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Source: Rhea of Hope Foundation to Host Scholarship Luncheon

Sterk: Rankin scholarships changing women's lives

One hundred years ago this Nov. 2, Jeannette Rankin was elected as the first woman to serve in Congress – years before women had the right to vote. Though she was a tireless advocate for social justice during her 60-year career, she is remembered largely because of her votes against entering both world wars.

From age 21, Rankin advocated women's suffrage (and was the only woman able to vote in favor of women's right to vote), child labor laws, medical care for the poor and staying out of war.

She had a home in Watkinsville from 1926 until she died in 1973. A $16,000 bequest from that estate was designated to help "mature unemployed women workers." Five visionary women from Athens came together, took that charge, and created the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, also known as Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund.

Susan Bailey, Gail Dendy, Heather Kleiner, Margaret Holt and Reita Rivers (Rankin's assistant) understood the power of education in changing the trajectory of a woman's life. The mission of the foundation is to provide postsecondary education to low-income women 35 and older by offering scholarships. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year, and in that time, have provided 1,200 scholarships totaling $2.5 million to more than 900 women.

The shape of the American family is changing. The number of women getting married in the United States is steadily declining. Why is this cause for concern? Among household types, more than two in five (43 percent) of single-female-headed households with children live below the poverty line. Compare this to the much lower poverty levels for single-male-headed households (24 percent) and married households (9 percent).

The median wealth for a single white male is $10,150, but for single white women, it is $3,210. The number is even lower – in fact, it's negative – for single black women (-$200) and Hispanic women (-$100). Women both earn less than men and have less wealth, and the gender wealth gap is larger than the gender wage gap. With less income and less wealth, single women are economically disadvantaged compared to single men.

Every year, about 75 percent of the fund scholars are single heads of households with a median income of $20,000. In the United States, the median income for a college-educated woman is $54,000, 82 percent more than the $30,000 median income for a high school-educated woman.

Poverty can feel overwhelming to see how anyone can overcome homelessness, unemployment and many other obstacles. The one thing – perhaps the only thing – that can help a woman to overcome poverty is education.

Every day, I see how the foundation scholarship recipients have figured out a way to make a better life for themselves and their children. Time and again, they have completed their education, found a better job and improved their living situation. Their children are inspired by their success and motivated to continue their education.

Let me share Khadijah's story with you. The Atlanta woman was a mother in trouble, trapped in an abusive marriage that led to physical health problems and clinical depression. After leaving her husband, she struggled to provide for her two children. The scholarship fund provided her with scholarships to complete her associate's and bachelor's degrees. She obtained safe housing for her son and herself while maintaining a 3.9 grade-point average. She is in her second year of law school.

Once a recipient of the services of Legal Aid, she now is a board member of that group. Khadijah has helped women in domestic violence shelters build better lives. She hopes to make that her profession after she finishes law school.

There is a lot of talk in the nonprofit community about eliminating generational poverty. The scholarship fund provides a critical path forward for women who might get stuck in that cycle of generational poverty.

We are continually inspired by what a $2,000 scholarship can do for a woman. But if you think about it, with the median income being $20,000, the scholarship provides 10 percent more income.

There are many different scholarship programs, but many of these programs are limited to funding only tuition. We know that going to school requires so much more than just paying tuition. Pam, a local Athens scholar, used some of her scholarship to replace four tires on her car, providing transportation to school. Because they can use their scholarship for child care, car repairs, the mortgage – anything necessary to get them through school – it becomes a tool to leverage significant life improvement.

The scholarships can make the difference between getting by and making a life. On a local, state and national level, we need to continually invest in postsecondary education critical for moving women and their families forward.

Though suffrage was the defining issue for women in Rankin's time, ensuring women have the wages and wealth they need to provide for their families has become the defining issue for women in our time.

Rankin's passion for advocacy lives on. Her votes and lobbying were able to help change the lives of many women. One by one, the scholars are changing their lives and their families' lives. Rankin's legacy is creating better lives for women and children 100 years after her historic election.

Karen Sterk is the executive director of the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund.

Source: Sterk: Rankin scholarships changing women's lives

Diddy Gives Howard University $1 Million Scholarship Check On Stage at Bad Boy Show [WATCH]

Sean 'Diddy' Combs (R) presents his Alma Matter Howard University's President Wayne A.I. Frederick, M.D., MBA with one million dollar check at the Puff Daddy and Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at the Verizon Center on September 22, 2016 in Washington D.C (Photo : Larry French/Getty Images)

P. Diddy recently paid it forward during his Washington D.C. Bad Boy Reunion Tour, where he presented a huge $1 million check to his former college, Howard University, to start a scholarship in his name.

As the Bad Boy Reunion Tour continues on its last leg, Sean Combs and the rest of the Bad Boy family performed in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 22, and left something extra special behind for everyone in attendance to remember.

According to 2DBZ, the former Howard University student presented the historically black college with a pledge to officially establish the "Sean Combs Scholarship" for their School Of Business.

Combs attended the HBCU back in the '90s but never graduated. He instead chose to leave school and pursue a career in music as an intern with Andre Harrell's New York label, Uptown.

Despite never earning his official degree, in 2014 he was recognized with an honorable doctorate degree in Humanities from the university, and served as the commencement speaker for the 2014 Howard University graduate ceremony, according to University Herald.

Combs received much criticism, according E Online, for receiving the honorary degree from Howard. Maybe the former naysayers will change their tune after the D.C. show where he presented the $1 million check on stage to university president, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick.

"The scholarship fund that Mr. Combs has established at Howard will help provide life-altering opportunities for our students, particularly at a time when many come to Howard struggling to meet ever-increasing financial needs," explained Dr. Frederick.

"The University is grateful for Mr. Combs' ongoing efforts to open doors for talented, hard-working individuals and improve their chances of navigating the way to personal and professional fulfillment," he continued.

Though Combs did not go all the way to the finish line with his undergraduate studies at the prominent D.C. school, he does still join the ranks of many other elite entertainers and affluent African Americans who proudly attest to being alumni of "the real HU."

Such notable alumni include actress Phylicia Rashad and her sister, director Debbie Allen. Empire's Taraji P. Henson also graduated from the HBCU, along with Chadwick Boseman; Anthony Anderson, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lynn Whitfield and a host of others whom would all agree with Combs's statement of love for his school.

"I was blessed to go to Howard University," explained Combs. "It changed my life. So much support, so much love is living in D.C., it made me believe that I could do anything."

Remaining tour dates for the Bad Boy Reunion Tour:

09/23: Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center09/24: Boston, MA @ TD Garden09/25: Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center09/30: Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena10/01: Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena

Source: Diddy Gives Howard University $1 Million Scholarship Check On Stage at Bad Boy Show [WATCH]

Need-based scholarships to priority in capital campaign, says UGA president Morehead

Need-based scholarships will be the number one priority when the University of Georgia announces the "public" phase of its ongoing capital campaign, according to University of Georgia president Jere Morehead.

Colleges typically announce the "public" phase of a fund-raising campaign about halfway through, naming an achievable goal. That goal hasn't been announced, but should be soon: UGA officials intend to announce the public phase of the eight-year campaign in November.

Morehead said earlier the goal would be more than $1 billion, which appears to be easily achievable. That's an average of $125 million per year. UGA fund-raisers pulled in a record $183.8 million in gifts and pledges last year. The year before, UGA announced a $144.2 million total, which was also a record.

Morehead didn't name a figure when he tabbed need-based scholarships the top priority at a Wednesday press conference.

But such scholarships are sorely needed, according to some recent studies.

At UGA, one in four students qualify for the need-based federal Pell Grant; at Georgia State University, more than half do, analyst Claire Suggs found when she examined financial aid data from the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia.

The Pell Grant often isn't enough to cover the gap between students' financial resources and what they have to pay for college — for many, even when they also get the state's lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship, she found. The HOPE Scholarship covers most of a student's tuition, but not fees, not books, nor other living expenses such as room and board.

Low-income and minority students are less likely to have a HOPE Scholarship, she found. Low-income students can face challenges hanging on to it, as well — working at jobs that pay the bills but cut into time that might otherwise be used for study.

The state's public colleges awarded about $29 million for need-based scholarships in 2013-14. But the need is much larger, $660 million as of that year, Suggs calculated.

The average student graduated with $23,000 to $25,000 in debt that year, according to Suggs' study.

About 97,000 students in the university system could not cover the full cost of going to college in Georgia in 2013-2014, even with scholarships, grants and a $5,500 low-interest loan, she wrote.

About 13,000 had to leave their studies between fall 2014 and 2015 because they couldn't pay tuition and fees, according to the study.

Follow reporter Lee Shearer at www.facebook.com/LeeShearerABH or https://twitter.com/LeeShearer.

Source: Need-based scholarships to priority in capital campaign, says UGA president Morehead