RSP Program Updates 2020-2021

Diana

Shayna

New Scholar Orientation - July 2021

Callie

Since its inception in 2000, The Renaissance Foundation has primarily invested in educational access and services for those with financial need. The Foundation's signature program, the Renaissance Scholars Program (RSP) was created in 2005. RSP focuses on providing renewable college scholarships to talented students with significant financial need who will be the first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Over the past 16 years, our scholars have achieved great success. Eighty-nine percent of Renaissance Scholars earn their bachelor's degree within six years, and 92% have graduated overall since RSP's inception (see Graduation Metrics for more information). In comparison, the national college graduation rate for firstgeneration, low-income students is less than 22%. RSP is fully funded by The Renaissance Foundation.

While COVID has created many challenges, the last two years have also been a time of growth for RSP. The Trustees hired the program's first Scholarship Program Manager, Callie Forrest. The scholarship selection committee, which reviews and approves applications, tripled in size, adding 16 new volunteers.

The program added two new partners, both of which have the distinction of being Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Most excitingly, this year RSP selected its largest cohort to date, 360 new Renaissance Scholars. In the 2021-22 academic year, RSP is supporting 757 scholars.

Looking ahead to 2022, RSP continues to focus on our two primary goals: granting more scholarships to students who meet our selective criteria, and helping our scholars graduate college. The program remains focused on maintaining strong scholar retention and graduation rates, while fine-tuning operational processes.

In February of 2020, Callie Forrest was hired to be the Foundation’s first Scholarship Program Manager.

She is focused on growing the number of scholars, developing and refining systems to support that growth, and building partnerships with mentoring organizations and colleges that support our scholars.

Callie earned her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University and previously worked for RSP partner College Possible.

In March of 2021, Shayna Beymer was promoted from Program Coordinator to Senior Program Administrator. She is focused on facilitating application review, assisting scholars in navigating college systems, and managing RSP data. Shayna was selected as a Renaissance Scholar in 2014 and was hired at the Foundation after earning her bachelor’s degree from Portland State University in 2017.

Diana Hoff has served as the Director of Operations and Administration of The Renaissance Foundation since its inception. She worked closely with the Trustees to launch RSP, developed the operations and managed the program through its early years. She continues to advise the RSP staff.

THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

OUR MISSION THE M I S SION OF TH E RENAISSANCE SCHO L A R S PROGR AM IS TO PROVIDE SCHO L A R SHIPS AN D OFFER SUPPORT T O HIGH - A C HIEVING, L OW-INCOME STUD E N T S WHO W ILL BE THE FIRST IN THEI R F AMILY TO E ARN A BACHELOR ’ S DEGR E E .

OUR SCHOLARS All scholars must meet high requirements: Will be first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree 3.0 GPA or higher High financial need Demonstrated strength of character and strong work ethic

THE SCHOLARSHIP The scholarship provides a maximum of $4,000 a year towards tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, depending on each student’s individual financial need. It is renewable for up to four years.

Scholars are eligible for renewal if they maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, have financial need, and are enrolled fulltime.

PARTNERSHIPS RSP works closely with several mentoring organizations and colleges to ensure that scholars are supported beyond the scholarship funds they receive from the program.

SCHOLAR SUPPORT RSP provides opportunities for scholars to connect with the Trustees, Foundation staff, and one another during Foundationhosted events throughout the year.

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.

New Scholar Orientation - August 2021

KEY METRICS 400

NEW SCHOLARS SELECTED

BY YEAR

impact to date 300

1,066

89%

SCHOLARS SUPPORTED

6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE (92% OVERALL)

$7.6 M

230

INVESTED IN SCHOLARSHIPS

GRADUATES

200

100

20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13 20 14 20 15 20 16 20 17 20 18 20 19 20 20 20 21

0

SCHOLARS SELECTED AS

757

current scholars

SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

TRANSFER STUDENT

0

CURRENT COLLEGE

176 UNIV. OF PORTLAND

50

UNIV. OF ILLINOIS, URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

100

OREGON STATE UNIV.

150

MOST-ATTENDED COLLEGES UNIV. OF OREGON

200

PORTLAND STATE UNIV.

15%

UNIQUE COLLEGES CURRENTLY ATTENDED

STUDENT

13% 86%

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

$2.5 M 85% SCHOLARS OF COLOR

ESTIMATED SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE 2021-22 ACADEMIC YEAR

2021-22 COHORT SELECTION

24

662

216

3

SELECTION COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS

TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS

STUDENT INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED

MIN. NUMBER OF REVIEWERS PER APPLICATION

scholarship selection committee All RSP applicants undergo a rigorous application and review process. Finalists are carefully selected. This year, 16 new volunteers were added to the committee to help facilitate this process. The committee is made up of educators, college administrators, RSP alumni, and other community members located across the country.

READING APPLICATIONS Each application is read and scored by at least three different committee members to ensure a fair average score. Finalists are then selected, with a subset selected for interviews.

INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES This year, the top 30% of scorers were granted a scholarship without an interview. The rest of the finalists were interviewed by RSP staff and selection committee volunteers.

2021-22 ELIGIBILITY In 2021-22, we tested several provisional eligibility changes that expanded our applicant pool.

We will monitor the progress of these scholars over the course of their college careers, but have decided for the coming year to revert to our original, more restrictive eligibility criteria.

2021-22 cohort

360

COHORT DEMOGRAPHICS

SCHOLARS SELECTED

OTHER/DECLINE TO STATE

MORE THAN ONE WHITE

cohort locations RSP had applicants from 24 states.

49%

20%

OREGON

ILLINOIS

NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER NATIVE AMERICAN OR ALASKA NATIVE MIDDLE EASTERN

12%

19%

CALIFORNIA

ALL OTHER STATES

7%

ASIAN

2% 14%

14% 1% 1% 2%

23%

36%

HISPANIC, LATINX, OR SPANISH ORIGIN

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

PARTNERSHIPS

Beat the Odds Luncheon - October 2018

college SUCCess programs Beat the odds/stand for children Chicago scholars college possible- chicago college possible- oregon

cristo rey network PCC Future Connect project youth+

colleges & universities North Carolina central Univ.* Pacific univ.

PORTLAND STATE UNIV. Stillman College* *Partnerships est. 2020-21

Univ. of oregon

KEY INITIATIVES IN-PERSON CONNECTIONS Traditionally, the Trustees have hosted annual brunches for all RSP scholars who wish to attend. These gettogethers have been a highlight of the program since the beginning. When it is safe, we plan to resume hosting brunches in Portland and Chicago.

ENGAGING ALUMNI This year RSP conducted an in-depth alumni survey to gather feedback about potential program improvements and ways to engage Renaissance alumni. Using that feedback, we will recruit more alumni for the scholarship selection committee and involve those interested in a series of career-information panels hosted for current scholars.

ADDING A NEW STAFF MEMBER As RSP continues to grow and expand its services, the volume of behind-the-scenes work and program management work grows as well. This winter we will hire a Scholarship Assistant to assist us in processing applications, coordinating events, and managing scholar data.

1,000 ENROLLED RENAISSANCE SCHOLARS Our goal is to reach 1,000 Renaissance Scholars by 2024 while maintaining our extremely high scholar retention and graduation rate.

Pacific University Welcome Reception- 2019

GRADUATION METRICS 1

LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS NATIONWIDE 2

ALL

RENAISSANCE SCHOLARS

Graduated within 6 years Graduated total

89% 92%

21%

87%

40%

95%

6%

BEGAN AT A 4-YEAR INSTITUTION Graduated within 6 years

BEGAN AT A 2-YEAR INSTITUTION Graduated within 6 years

1. All Renaissance Scholars graduation rates refer to graduates from the cohorts between 2005 and 2016.

2. Source: http://pellinstitute.org/downloads/publications-Indicators_of_Higher_Education_Equity_in_the_US_2020_Historical_Trend_Report.pdf

RENAISSANCE SCHOLARS IN THE NEWS "Unprecedented Chicago helps young people find their purpose."

Steve Wilson was selected as a Renaissance Scholar in 2019. He is a member of Chicago Scholars and currently a junior at at Ohio State University. Steve founded his own peer mentoring program, "Unprecedented Chicago" to help young Black men accomplish their goals.

“From refugees to entrepreneurs: cousins and PSU business students launch brand inspired by their heritage, empower others to do the same.”

Portland State University sophomores and cousins, Japhety Ngabireyimana and Jospin Mugisha were selected as scholars in 2020 and 2021, respectively. They founded their own clothing line, "bproud" which is focused on encouraging other young entrepreneurs.

"New NCCU partnership provides support for incoming first-year students."

North Carolina Central University sophomore Manuhe Abebe was selected as a scholar in 2021, the inaugural year of the Renaissance NCCU partnership. In this article for NCCU, Manuhe shares what being selected for RSP means to him.

"Vintage clothing enthusiasts show there's 'more than just the Duck Store'."

Referred to RSP by partner Beat the Odds, Eduardo Olivares was selected as a scholar in 2018. He is now in his senior year at the University of Oregon. In this article, Eduardo and his business partner talk about the vintage clothing store they opened in Eugene.

"Students find new ways to learn, live and connect both online and on campus."

College Possible student and Portland State University senior, Citlaly Arroyo-Juarez was selected as a scholar in 2018. In this article for PSU, she shares her experience navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing college landscape.

RENAISSANCE SCHOLARS Program Callie Forrest, Scholarship Program Manager Shayna Beymer, Senior Program Administrator

THE RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION Irving Levin, Trustee Stephanie Fowler, Trustee Diana Hoff, Director of Operations and Administration Jonah Edelman, Advisor Lizzie Levin, Advisor