By now, upperclassmen have felt the draining effect that college has had upon their wallets. In response to annual tuition increases and other rising costs, the Student Government Association is again offering scholarships for current students.
For the third consecutive year, five $1,000 merit-based scholarships will be awarded to full-time undergraduate students who have completed 30 or more credit hours.
Applications are available in the SGA office, and are due by Nov. 26. A seven-member committee composed of students and faculty will select the winners.
John Curry, SGA financial vice president, hopes to continue to improve upon the revenue generating resources for the upperclass scholarship.
“This year, $5,000 will be taken from revenue collected by SGA’s contract with MTV to fund the scholarship,” said Curry.
With help of former SGA Moderator Phil Lyons, SGA negotiated a $7,500 contract with mtvU, a music television channel available to college campuses. mtvU is shown in the Griesedieck and Fusz cafeterias. As a result of this funding, the current upperclass endowment fund will not be used to award recipients of this year’s upperclass scholarship.
Although still in the planning stage, Curry has spoken with SLU development administrators about creating a letter-writing campaign, in which former recipients of the upperclass scholarship could formally address donors in hopes of generating additional funding.
The endowment of the scholarship began through the collaborative efforts of past SGA finance and academic committees. Rather than merely rewarding students based upon their high school credentials, this program benefits students for their college accomplishments. As a result of the endowment plan, upperclassmen should continue to reap its benefits well into the future, Curry said.
“It is a great opportunity.I know a lot of financial aid is funneled toward students in their freshmen and sophomore years. But for junior and senior students, they need that additional kind of funding to support their endeavors,” SLU Stewardship Director Amanda Rainey said.
The upperclass endowment is also funded by alumni donations, vending machines in the BSC and any accrued interest from endowment investitures. In years past, SGA senators conducted several phone-a-thons in order to create and sustain the endowed scholarship. The administration’s Office of Annual Giving, however, is now in charge of overseeing these calling sessions.
The SGA Upperclass Scholarship Selection Committee awards students based upon each “candidate’s campus involvement, leadership experience, commitment to diversity, commitment to the Catholic Jesuit mission and contribution to the community.”
Amber Tenholder, a junior and potential candidate, is excited to see SGA address concerns over fixed financial aid awards, increasing tuition and other education expenses.
“I think the opportunity to receive these scholarships helps out a lot,” Tenholder said. “[It} encourages students to keep giving to SLU.”
