Scholarships help send first-generation students to college
By Ryan Rodriguez, grants manager, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
With the new academic year in full swing, nearly 200 students from the Atlanta region have financial assistance from Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta scholarships. Almost $600,000 in scholarships has been awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year.
A total of 584 students applied for scholarships this year and 85 new awards were made, totaling $256,150. In addition, 111 students received funding through renewable scholarships totaling $333,000 for the academic year. A year-over-year trend indicates that demand for scholarship funding far exceeds the amount available to be awarded.
This year’s Community Foundation scholarship recipients include:
- 26% are first-generation college goers in their families
- 70% are female; 30% are male
- 85% are students of color
- 15% of this year’s awards are going to students attending Spelman College, in large part through the Foundation’s George and Pearl Strickland Scholarship that benefits those attending Atlanta’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The Community Foundation manages nearly 20 different scholarship funds. Scholarships are set up by Community Foundation donors and some are specific to students from an individual school or for those in a designated field of study. Many scholarships provide financial assistance for students attending any accredited college, university or technical school.
More information can be found on the Community Foundation’s website. Students who wish to apply for scholarships should check the website in December for application details and deadlines. Individuals who would like to explore creating a philanthropic scholarship fund with the Community Foundation can find details here.
