| Scholarship Campaign Enjoys Early Success | |||
| In just over 14 months since the public announcement of the Putting Students First Scholarship Campaign, the $18 million goal has been met. Efforts will continue though to add to that total through December 2005. | |||
| "Response from alumni and friends has been tremendously gratifying," says Foundation President and Executive Director Dave Gibson. "We are very grateful for this support. We continue to work with donors, and any funds given or pledged to a specific or general scholarship endowment will count toward the campaign." | |||
| Thus far, 2,659 donors have supported the campaign, which seeks to help recruit, retain and reward deserving students through endowed scholarships. | |||
| "In line with MSU's commitment to ensuring student success, our number one priority continues to be providing access and opportunity through scholarships to deserving students," says MSU President Geoff Gamble. "As we continue this campaign through 2005, we hope to dramatically increase the number of alumni and other friends who support our efforts, as the breadth of support we achieve is as important as the level of giving." | |||
| Gifts to endowments that support renewable undergraduate scholarships without regard to an intended major are key to MSU's ability to provide an accessible education. Not only do these scholarships nurture and reward talented students, they also free them to focus on their studies and to be involved in other activities - such as student government, performing arts, community volunteer opportunities, university and community service organizations, and athletics - without the added pressure of excessive outside employment undermining their academic success. | |||
| It is increasingly difficult for academically qualified students to afford higher education. In academic year 1980-81, tuition and fees for a full-time undergraduate resident student totaled $572. In 1990-91 that figure had more than doubled to $1,390. A decade later, the 200001 tuition and fees totaled $3,079; and by this fall, the 2004-05 cost is $4,577. These figures do not include room and board, books and supplies, or personal/miscellaneous expenses. The student population has tremendous financial need to support their education. | |||
| Endowed scholarships can be funded through outright gifts of cash, securities or through planned gifts such as bequests, trusts, gifts of life insurance or other means. A gift of any size may be added to an existing scholarship endowment. A specific named endowment can be established with a gift or multi-year pledge of $15,000 or greater. | |||
| Troy Kelsey, a 2002 civil engineering graduate and scholarship recipient sums up the impact scholarship assistance had on his life. "As a nontraditional student it was nice to know that there were scholarships out there for me," says Kelsey, now a transportation engineer for WGM Group in Missoula. "The scholarship I received meant I could work less hours to support my family, and, that, in turn, gave me more quality time with my family. Another great benefit was that the scholarship decreased the amount of money I borrowed." | |||
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