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Annual Program Review

2023-24

FromtheTrustees

It is with pleasure that we provide our annual program review The Renaissance Scholars Program (RSP) is entering our 20th year, and our intrepid team of Diana, Callie, Charlotte and Katie are readying for a year of growth in the number of Scholars supported, and continued great success in retention and graduation rates

Last year we added 205 new Scholars, and 208 graduated We are nearing our goal of supporting 1,000 Scholars When we started the program, we were able to select almost all applicants who met our criteria As our number of applicants has grown, we have implemented a more selective ranking system

At the end of this academic year we expect to surpass 1,000 graduates! It will have taken 20 years to do so, and we expect our next 1,000 within 5 years

Our Scholars have withstood the myriad disruptions of COVID, a breakdown of the federal student aid system last year, and still continue to succeed at a high rate: 87% of our incoming Scholars have graduated within 6 years

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated staff, and our growing cadre of volunteers who review and score applications We note that of our 45 volunteers last year, 21 were Renaissance Scholars! To all of you our heartfelt thanks

We are so proud of our Scholars, who overcome so much in being first in their families to attend college: They are heroes, one and all

Please do share any comments or ideas

Stephanie

and Irving

Co-Trustees

of The Renaissance Foundation

IrvingLevin StephanieFowler

AbouttheRenaissanceScholars Program(RSP)

TheScholarship

The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years Scholarship funds can be applied to tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, depending on each Scholar’s individual financial need. The award may be used at any accredited, four-year college in the United States.

OurScholars

All applicants must meet rigorous standards: Will be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree

3 0 GPA or higher High financial need

Currently residing in Oregon or Illinois or planning to attend a partner HBCU High school senior or college freshman or sophomore

Demonstrated strength of character and strong work ethic

The scholarship is renewable for up to four years Scholars are eligible for renewal if they maintain a minimum 2 5 GPA, have continued financial need, and are enrolled full-time at a four-year institution.

ScholarSupport

RSP's first priority is encouraging Scholars to connect with resources at their college However, we do provide RSP-specific resources as well These include our online resource library, quarterly resource newsletter, and virtual career panels featuring RSP alumni. We also hold a few in-person social gatherings per year where Scholars can meet one another, the Trustees, and RSP staff.

Partnerships

RSP works closely with several mentoring organizations in Oregon and Chicago to ensure that Scholars are supported beyond the scholarship funds they receive from the program

Behind the Scenes

RSP is outcome-focused We carefully collect and analyze data and Scholar feedback to refine the program. The program also has a dedicated team of volunteers that helps select each new cohort.

Scholars Supported

6-Year Graduation Rate 809 Renaissance Graduates

Invested in Scholarships

In 2005, The Renaissance Foundation launched the Renaissance Scholars Program in partnership with Portland State University with eight Scholars in the initial cohort RSP focuses on awarding grants to talented, low-income students who will be the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Over the years, the program has grown both in number of Scholars and geography, now funding more than 800 ongoing Scholars in Oregon, Illinois, and outside those regions through partnerships with three Historically Black College and Universities.

In recent years, the number of new Scholars selected has leveled out at between 200-250 We hope to increase this to about 300, which we estimate will increase the overall number of Scholars supported to about 1,000 However we do not intend to lower our selection criteria to do so We are proud that our Scholars have maintained an extremely strong 87% six-year college graduation rate

NEW SCHOLARS SELECTED BY YEAR

CurrentScholarsin2024

ScholarResources

Each year, we survey RSP alumni to learn more about their college experience. We consistently hear that they wish they had more support in academic success, financial wellness, career development, and finding mentors In response, we now offer several resources to address these interests

RenaissanceScholarsResources

In-Person Social Events

Quarterly Resource Newsletter

Virtual Career Panels

Online Resource Library

CareerSpring Professional Development

Platform

ScholarBrunches

Scholar brunches have been part of the Renaissance Scholars Program since its inception. In 2024, RSP held Scholar Brunches in our two most populous cities, Chicago and Portland These provide opportunities for Scholars to meet each other as well as program alumni, staff, and Trustees

Partnerships

In 2005, the Renaissance Scholars Program was founded in partnership with Portland State University Since then we have expanded our partnerships with organizations that promote college access and success. In 2018, our expansion to Chicago was made possible by partnerships with Chicago Scholars, Cristo Rey Network, and College Possible Chicago.

We know that the support Scholars receive from their mentors in addition to the scholarship funding they receive from us work together to support them on their path to a bachelor's degree

RenaissanceScholarsPartners

Colleges

Elizabeth City State University

Portland State University

North Carolina Central University

Stillman College

College Access and Community Programs

Chicago Scholars

College Possible Chicago

College Possible Oregon

Portland Community College- Future Connect

Project Youth+

Stand for Children- Beat the Odds

SpotlightonBeattheOdds

The Renaissance Foundation has long been a supporter of Stand for Children, a nonprofit that advocates for equity in public education We were among the first financial supporters of the Beat the Odds Scholarship Program, and have become the sole funder since 2018 Beat the Odds Scholars are talented low-income students who have overcome challenging circumstances with the help of their teachers and school staff.

To date, we have awarded over one million dollars to Beat the Odds Scholars. We are proud to support an organization doing such important work.

Diana Salgado was awarded a Beat the Odds scholarship in 2016 She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and theology from University of Portland in 2020 She earned her master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. She is currently the Associate Director of Echo Graduate Service Program at the University of Notre Dame.

It helped me to accomplish my goals and dreams It made me feel supported and loved as I navigated college as a first-gen student

DIANASALGADO

Beat the Odds Scholar 2016

RenaissanceAlumni

Since our first three graduates in 2008, 809 of our Scholars have earned their bachelor’s degrees This year, we congratulated 208 Renaissance Scholars as they earned their bachelor’s degrees. We estimate that in 2025, we will reach 1,000 total Scholars graduated from college. We feel fortunate to have supported these talented Scholars on their college journeys, and we are delighted that many of them stay engaged with RSP after graduation. *NEW*AlumniNewsletter

*The “

Volunteer on the scholarship selection committee

Attend Scholar brunches and alumni socials

Participate on career panels for current Scholars

Utilize CareerSpring platform to find mentors and jobs

Stay up to date with RSP’s alumni newsletter

This year RSP launched our first alumni newsletter. Packed with updates from our alumni, resources, and ways to stay engaged with RSP, we look forward to celebrating our alumni in this new way

AlumniUpdates

Six RSP alumni share a bit about their journeys since graduating college.

FARAMENDY

Portland State University ‘21

I transferred from PCC to Portland State University in 2019 to complete my bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies After graduating, I worked as an administrative assistant in the OHSU Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, where I supported program residents and medical students studying anesthesia. I also coordinated an elective course for medical students. More recently, during graduate school, I worked as a graduate assistant for the PSU Department of Education Abroad, providing advising and administrative support for our study abroad programs During my time at PCC, while earning my associate degree, I held several student jobs, including working for the English and World Languages department I also worked for the PCC Foundation as a scholarship program assistant. I just graduated this past spring from PSU with a master’s in Educational Leadership and Policies, and I am currently looking for job opportunities mainly in nonprofits, universities, and hospitals

VALERIAGONZALEZ

University of Oregon ‘23

KAYLEEZILINGER

Northwestern University ‘23

After graduating from UO, I did a big move from Oregon to Los Angeles, CA! I'm passionate about cultural diversity and wanted to immerse myself in a community that requires that attention to best come back to serve my community in Oregon I am currently applying to graduate programs, but in my break from school, I have been using my free time to read, crochet, and practice yoga. I recently adopted a dog from the shelter as well named Apollo and he has become my whole world. At work, I have become an active stakeholder for the community working with partners such as the council district, LAPD, and others to improve the state of MacArthur Park I have had a year of insane growth, learning, and opportunities and am looking forward to the future!

I just moved to New Haven and started my position as a post-bacc research fellow at Yale I just signed up to take the MCAT in March I've been volunteering at the Haven Free Clinic as a patient navigator and at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Smilow Cancer Hospital Infusion Clinic. I'm hoping to apply to medical scientist training programs this upcoming May.

AlumniUpdates

I'm continuing my doctorate in physical therapy I moved into a house with my roommates, which are also pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy I volunteered at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for my summer vacation in Chicago, it was amazing to see all the work they do to help patients recover. To stay active during school my friends and I signed up for a half marathon! I had the great honor to receive 3 scholarships from the physical therapy program to continue pursuing my education I am extremely honored at the scholarship committee to have the confidence in my abilities and motivation in my education I am grateful that I have the privilege to continue studying to become a physical therapist for my community

ANGELICANIETO

St. Louis University ‘21

MANUHEABEBE

North Carolina Central University ‘24

After graduating from North Carolina Central University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, focusing on Public Relations, my journey took an exciting turn when I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to start my career at Mastercard Landing a job right after college has truly been a blessing, and I can only thank God for this incredible opportunity It's been a transformative experience moving to a new city and transitioning into my first apartment, marking the start of a new chapter. While I’m grateful for my current role, I’m also thinking about the future and possibly pursuing an MBA I’m still deciding when and where I’d like to continue my education, but I know that getting an MBA could further expand my career and personal growth The path ahead is exciting, and I feel blessed to be on this journey

JASONHO

Oregon State University ‘24

I just started my new job at Google as a software engineer. It was definitely a huge accolade for me considering I didn’t attend any gateway universities. I wanted to shed light to other students that are attending any university that it’s possible to land a position at their dream firms If there’s anybody with questions, feel free to reach out to me!

ThankYoutoOurVolunteer Committee!

Each scholarship application is evaluated by three different readers to ensure a fair evaluation. We are grateful to have a dedicated volunteer team to help us facilitate this process. Our volunteers come from a variety of different professional backgrounds, including many current and former educators.

Agnes Hoffman

Washington State University 1973

Northwestern University 1974 Portland State University 1977

Al Mollica Shippensburg University 1975 Delaware State University 1994

Alexander McPherson Concordia University 2019

Amanda Kirby-Houck University of Maryland 2019, 2024

Amy Trieu Carleton College 2006

An Tran

Portland State University 2022

Barbara Kuzniak VanAmerongen

State University of New York at Albany 1972

Ball State University 1975

Carl Thomas

Southern Oregon State College 1994 Southern Oregon University 2022

Cecily Smith

Grinnell College 2018

Charlie Engelberg New York University 1975, 1977

Cierra Jackson

Texas A&M University 2019

Texas Christian University 2022

Cindy Fontenot Spelman College 1990

Citlaly Arroyo-Juarez Portland State University 2022

Cynthia Bui

Brown University 2022

DeShanna Brown

Kennesaw State University 2003

DeVry University 2006

Nova Southeastern University 2016

Diane Mulligan

University of Oregon 1974, 1979, 1994

Doris Medina

University of Illinois at Chicago 2015

Erin Kane

Portland State University 1996 The New School 2006

Haley Soller

Portland State University 2021

Helen Vu

St Olaf College 2021

Janel Smoot

University of Oregon 2014

Janet Bedolla Salinas

Portland State University 2023

Jeffrey Pierce II Paine College 2010 Walden University 2013

Jen Andres

Yale University 1992

Johns Hopkins University 1996

Jesse McDonald

Portland State University 2021

Josie Bowlouden

Eastern Oregon University 2021

Katrina Machorro

Oregon State University 2009 University of Virginia 2013

Kelli Diaz

Loyola University 1993, 1996

King Kwasitsu

Portland State University 2020

Maria Than Middlebury College 2021

Marius Balola

Oregon State University 2013, 2019

Marty Mitchell Beloit College 1974

Brigham Young University 1991

Nicole Yip

Pacific University 2018

Florida State University 2022

Pouya Ahmadi

Portland State University 2013

Georgetown University 2019

Rachael Conway

Linfield University 2017 Brandeis University 2022

Rocio Arreola Fitzgerald

Oregon State University Cascades 2013

Sarah Li

Portland State University 2018 Trevecca Nazarene University 2023

Shalece Rains

Hawaii Pacific University 1998

Oregon State University 2015

Shayna Beymer

Portland State University 2017

Shyann Montgomery University of Oregon 2021

Susan Stillman

Smith College 1969

Taiz Gomez University of Oregon 2022

Tom Bull

Loyola University 1995

Northwestern University 2004

Yazmin Manzo

Portland State University 2020

Yoli Flores

Portland State University 2017

Renaissance Scholars Alumni

LookingAhead

We are proud of the accomplishments of our Scholars and the RSP program, but constantly think about refinements. Here are some of the bigger questions we are contemplating:

AwardAmount

Over the last few years we have raised the annual award from $3,000 to $5,000 Could we do more good supporting fewer students with more dollars, or more students with fewer dollars?

CollegeSelection

Because they can select the school of their choosing, we have Scholars at 180 colleges and universities This hampers our ability to provide additional on-campus support. Additionally we worry that some of the schools our students attend may not offer higher quality education. Should we reduce the number of eligible colleges and universities so as to provide better on-campus support for all?

SourcingApplicants

We work closely with mentoring partner programs in Oregon and Chicago, to supply us with applicants ready to succeed in college Three years ago as a test, we considered applicants from all over the US who applied online (we get many of these) This group is entering senior year, and we are watching to see whether there is a difference in results between these and our partner programs. Depending on the outcomes, we may revisit our applicant sourcing strategies.