Scholarships: Gifts that Keep on Giving

FLORIDA GULF

COAST UNIVERSITY

SCHOLARSHIPS: GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

Florida Gulf Coast University hasn’t raised tuition or fees in 7 years, yet the need for scholarship aid has never been greater. The pandemic created a perfect storm of financial need, with countless families losing their primary sources of income and many part-time jobs students relied on to help pay their way disappearing at the same time.

E

rick Sandoval is among those feeling that impact. As the fall 2020 semester approached, he worried that he might not be able to start his junior year at FGCU. His father lost his job as a finish carpenter in March when businesses shut down because of the pandemic and, although both Erick and his mother were still working, money was tight.

“I was thinking I might have to take a break from school to work more hours to help my family pay rent and other expenses,” said the sports management major who was already putting in 30 hours a week at a local condo complex.

But Erick was lucky. Just in the nick of time, he received two scholarships – the Donald and Elizabeth Manchester Scholarship and an FGCU Foundation Board Pandemic Scholarship. Together, they enabled him to take a full course load in both the fall and spring semesters.

“I feel so blessed,” he said.

“I’m the first person in my entire family to graduate high school and the first to go to college. I am super thankful for this.”

Erick is one of thousands of students for whom scholarships and grants make a college education possible.

ERICK SANDOVAL

For the 2020-21 academic year, 4,311 students applied for aid from the FGCU Foundation. Of those, 1,574 students received scholarships as of March.

As is always the case, need far outstrips available funds.

The FGCU Foundation Board of Directors recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic had created even greater economic hardships for students. That gave Foundation Board Treasurer Charles Ketteman an idea.

He suggested that the board members create a scholarship fund to which each member would donate “as much as we felt good about then ask friends and acquaintances to match us,” he said. “I felt we could raise $50,000 or $60,000 and do it quickly so we could impact 50 students.”

The group raised $30,000 in the first 48 hours and has raised close to $70,000 for the Foundation Board Pandemic Scholarship Fund.

38%

STUDENTS WHOSE FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE NOT MET

“I relate to this,” said Linda Taylor, former Board of Trustees member and former FGCU Foundation Board chair, speaking about the pandemic fund. “I would not have been able to finish school if I had lost my job.”

Although the Foundation has distributed a record $4.6 million in scholarships this year, this special fund might mean the difference between whether dozens of students can return to school or not.

That was certainly the case for Erick Sandoval and for many other students. And it’s why this year’s fundraising focus is on scholarships.

Board members are hoping others will follow their lead and invest in students’ futures by directing contributions to whatever type of scholarship appeals to them.

I COME FROM A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY AND MY PARENTS CAN’T CONTRIBUTE TO MY COLLEGE EXPENSES. I VIEW A SCHOLARSHIP AS AN INVESTMENT IN A PERSON. IT MEANS THAT THE SPONSOR BELIEVES THAT STUDENT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL” – SESAR LORENZO VALLE,

Junior Construction management major Southwest Florida Roofing Contractors Association Scholarship recipient

MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS An impressive 44 percent of FGCU students are considered academically gifted and receive merit scholarships, such as Bright Futures, National Merit, National Hispanic and others.

In addition, there are privately funded scholarships available for high achievers provided through the FGCU Foundation.

Because of her high grades and extensive involvement in good causes, sophomore Rebecca Paul was awarded a Jubilee Scholarship, REBECCA PAUL which covers tuition, books, room and board for all four years.

The Naples biology major, who graduated from high school with a 6.01 GPA and a

dental assistant’s certification, aspires to become an orthodontist. When COVID forced students off campus and back to their homes, she volunteered as a dental assistant at a nonprofit health clinic in Naples, and made plans to work with a children’s ministry at her church last fall.

While she also looked forward to joining the Haitian Student Organization and the Dominican Republic Outreach Program last fall, she wrote to her donors, “I will only join what I can handle and won’t allow my participation to affect my studies.”

NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS About half of FGCU students qualify for needbased aid. About a third receive Pell grants, which are awarded to those whose families earn between $20,000 and $50,000 annually.

First-generation scholarships can help as well.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S SO WONDERFUL ABOUT A SCHOLARSHIP IS IT NOT ONLY HELPS TO GIVE A STUDENT A START WITH LESS DEBT BUT IT ALSO CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DONOR AND THE STUDENT. IN SO MANY CASES THAT REALLY HAS ENRICHED BOTH THE DONORS’ EXPERIENCE AND THAT OF THE STUDENTS.” – KATHERINE “KITTY” GREEN,

Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the FGCU Foundation

The FGCU Foundation offers a variety of scholarships for deserving students who qualify based on need.

For Jennifer Thrower, the John & Fran Smith JENNIFER Scholarship allowed her THROWER to return to school after a 12-year hiatus so that she could realize her dream of becoming a social science teacher.

With a 10-year-old son with autism and a full academic load, the child and youth studies major was able to focus on her son and her coursework because of the scholarship. The result: a 3.9 GPA. Without the assistance “I wouldn’t be able to achieve the grades necessary to fulfill my professional ambition of becoming an educator in Lee County,” she says.

STUDENTS IN THE MIDDLE That leaves 38 percent of students who fall somewhere between and either aren’t able to procure enough financial aid – or don’t qualify for any at all.

They often face tough decisions. Some take out loans to cover their fees. Over the course of four years, these can add up, leaving them with a substantial debt to pay off when they graduate.

4,311

Number of students who applied for scholarships in 2020-21

1,574

Number of students who received FGCU Foundation scholarships so far this year

$4.6M

Awarded so far this year

$2,260

Average amount awarded per scholarship this year

Others opt for a full-time job or two part-time jobs while also going to school. That might also mean taking fewer classes at a time.

Outside jobs also eat up time they may need to study and prevent them from experiencing the other aspects of college that make it rewarding, such as participating in university organizations, cultural events and sports.

It’s these students to whom John and Donna Schubert direct their support.

get help,” John Schubert said.

The couple decided to fund a scholarship for one student a year at FGCU. Although the first two didn’t work out, they kept at it.

They estimate they’ve now helped 20 or more students earn their degrees.

Among those was Javon Daniels, who graduated in May 2019 with a degree in integrated studies.

They began giving about 15 years ago when a woman from the Boys and Girls Clubs talked to them about how impactful scholarships could be in keeping kids out of trouble.

“My dream was to be the first person in my family to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree,” he said. “This scholarship was the only way I would be able to complete that dream. It will change my life.”

“It occurred to us that maybe those students might fall through the cracks if they didn’t

The Schuberts are equally happy with how Javon’s college experience turned out.

WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HELPFUL NOT ONLY FOR THE PARTICULAR STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.” – JOHN AND DONNA SCHUBERT, Donors

“At first, he was a question mark, but he really matured and turned into an impressive young man,” Donna Schubert said. “I just got a text message from his mother.

She was very appreciative and complimentary. These things make you say ‘wow.’ Not STUDENTS only are we happy but their WHO GRADUATE parents are, too.”

FROM FGCU WITH

52% NO DEBT

John Schubert says, “We feel like we are doing something that is very helpful not only for the particular students, but for the community.”

They also think it’s a matter of second chances.

“Everyone doesn’t mature at the same rate,” says Donna Schubert. “Some in high school maybe aren’t as studious then they realize they cut themselves short on what they might be able to do and come to regret it. Then people come in and show that one mistake doesn’t define your life. You can go on and become more.”

TO DONATE

For information or to make a gift, contact the Foundation office at (239) 590-1067 or give online at fgcu.edu/givenow.

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You can help students achieve their educational dreams by donating to scholarships.

View the videos of the students profiled here at fgcu.edu/studentscholarships

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

10501 FGCU Boulevard South Fort Myers, Florida 33965-6565 (239) 590-1067

fgcu.edu/foundation