Ensuring the Accessibility of Education B Y M O R G A N H I L L ( E P S I LO N Z E TA , A U B U R N U N I V E R S I T Y ) , F O U N DAT I O N C O M M U N I C AT I O N S S P E C I A L I S T, A N D E R I N PA R K S ( A L P H A C H I , B U T L E R U N I V E R S I T Y ) , F O U N DAT I O N O P E R AT I O N S M A N AG E R
someone can’t participate. I’m blessed to be in a position to create a fund, so I chose to establish an educational assistance fund for members from my chapter of initiation. I love watching how the grant enables our members to continue growing in Alpha Chi Omega with less financial stress.”
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After academic assistance funds have been established, they are included in the list of grants for which collegiate and alumnae members apply through the annual application. Once the application closes, the volunteer Scholarships Committee reviews all merit-based applications while the Educational Assistance Grants Committee reviews the need-based applications.
he Individual Support priority of the Foundation’s Common Bond. Uncommon Impact. campaign seeks to help ease the financial burden that some Alpha Chi Omega members face while in school. Endowed academic assistance funds provide grants for collegiate and alumnae members to help pay for educational expenses. This transformative difference for sisters begins with donations to the Foundation’s academic assistance funds. Gifts to create and grow these funds have a meaningful impact on individual members and help improve member retention and chapter academic success. In addition, giving to an endowed fund in honor of a sister who changed your life is a great way to make an uncommon impact. Alma Scroggins (Alpha Upsilon, The University of Alabama) says, “Jewel Patterson Howard was chapter advisor of the Alpha Upsilon chapter at The University of Alabama when I pledged in 1967. She was vivacious, supportive and encouraging. At that time, I didn’t realize she was just a few years older than me! Now all these years later Jewel still provides recruitment support and has for over 35 years. Supporting the Jewel Patterson Howard Scholarship Fund endowed in her honor is my way of showing appreciation for her loyalty to all our sisters.” Donors can give to existing endowed funds or establish a new one, like Emilie Beagle (Upsilon, Millikin University) did! “As a long-term chapter advisor, I’ve seen firsthand how the rising cost of higher education affects our members. I believe in the experience AXΩ provides collegians and don’t want finances to be the reason
Dena Norrod (Delta Zeta, Central Michigan University) serves as the chair of the Scholarships Committee and shares, “It is a joy to be able to recognize the amazing work that Alpha Chi Omega women are doing. To see the heights that these real, strong women are able to reach is a privilege, and I love being part of the team that rewards these activities with grants to help with their educational expenses.” Alleviating the financial burden of education allows sisters to thrive in the Alpha Chi experience. Tracy Coleman (Zeta Omicron, Vanderbilt University) served on the Educational Assistance Grants Committee for seven years, the last four as chair. She says, “Alpha Chi Omega Foundation scholarships and grants give sisters a boost, a little breathing room, so they can stay engaged and enjoy the fulfilling collegiate experience that we all had.”
Scholarships are merit-based academic grants. Educational assistance grants are need-based academic grants. Academic assistance grants is the collective term for all scholarships and educational assistance grants awarded by the Foundation.
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