Centre College announces full-ride scholarships for first-generation students

Centre College’s flagship first-generation scholarship program has received another boost.

The 格里森bwin体育 Program was established as a full-tuition scholarship in 2014 with a gift from Marlene and David 格里森 '60 to provide college access and affordability for 10 first-generation students at Centre every year, 一次总共40个. 它现在将支付食宿费用，并继续提供5美元,000 in enrichment funding for each scholar to participate in educational opportunities such as study abroad, 学生的研究, 和实习.

格里森家族的这份额外礼物是对他们原来礼物的扩充, 2014年制造, that remains the largest single gift ever received in Centre College’s 205-year history. 1960年毕业于该bwin体育，是名誉理事, David 格里森 served on the Centre College Board of Trustees for more than 50 years and chaired the Board for more than two decades.

“At Centre, our mission is to prepare students for lives of learning, leadership, and service. David and Marlene 格里森’s philanthropy exemplifies that mission and passes it on to high-achieving first-generation students who have the character and leadership needed to become change-makers in their own communities,bwin体育主席米尔顿·C. 信息会说. “The 格里森bwin体育hip Program provides transformational support that benefits these students and their families, 通过他们, 学院, 英联邦, 我们的世界.”

Centre provides more than $47 million in financial aid and grants to students each year, gaining national recognition as an institution that provides extensive support and resources to its students. In 2023, 学院 received a $1 million grant to join the Kessler Scholars Collaborative, a national network of first-generation focused institutions providing personal mentorship and over $5,为每位bwin体育提供5万美元的支持资金. 

In 2023, 学院 also received an additional $10 million commitment from Marlene and David 格里森 to fund the Thrive Program for first-generation students. Thrive为每位学生提供5美元,000 in flexible wraparound funding to use for such things such as study abroad, 往返校园, 教科书, 还有一台笔记本电脑. Now in its inaugural year, there are more than 50 students in the Thrive Program. When full, there will be more than 200 recipients receiving Thrive funding on campus at a time. 

The 格里森, Kessler and Thrive Programs make up the Centre College First-Generation Guarantee. Each incoming first-generation student at Centre is promised a place in one of these programs. The expansion of the 格里森bwin体育 Program funding bolsters extensive financial and personal support to first-generation students and will begin with the incoming class of 格里森bwin体育 in fall 2024.

“格里森bwin体育 are shining examples of students who excel in and out of the classroom,大卫·格里森说. 从毕业生代表到学生会主席, we are thrilled to see that first-generation students have the opportunity to lead an enriched experience at one of the best colleges in the nation.”

最近格里森奖学金毕业生包括约书亚·丹尼尔·斯托·多明戈23届, 目前是加州大学的博士生, 谁是班级致告别辞的代表. Kristen Bryant ’23 was awarded a Fulbright and is teaching English in Taiwan. Current 格里森 Scholar and Student Government Association President Hailey Finch noted that the 格里森bwin体育hip allows students to be their very best.

“格里森 is the reason I get to have a college experience at all,” Finch said. “通过奖学金和它的福利, 我已经能够专注于我的教育, 而不必担心为技术付费, 教科书, 学校用品, 甚至是出国留学项目. 我出国留学过三次, 我参加了很多课外活动, and have had the support system to run for and serve as Student Body President.”

自项目开始以来, Centre has seen its first-generation student population grow from 9 to 21 percent of the student body. Students in the program boast an impressive graduation rate of 94 percent and represent 22 states. 另外, 格里森bwin体育 are likely to take advantage of Centre’s nationally ranked study abroad program — scholars have used enrichment funding to study abroad in more than 25 different countries.

因为学院仍然致力于提供访问, 为学生提供机会和个人支持, 格里森bwin体育 Program Director Sarah Scott ’93 noted how current students and alumni reinforce what makes Centre one of a kind.

“This announcement is a tribute to current 格里森bwin体育 and alumni in that we have been able to secure even more generous support for future generations in the program,斯科特说. “他们令人难以置信的成功为其他人铺平了道路.”

“格里森计划, 以及凯斯勒bwin体育计划和茁壮成长计划, provide tremendous financial support for our amazing first-generation college students. I know no other college in the nation that has dedicated more resources to first-generation students than Centre. 我们非常幸运能得到奥巴马先生的大力支持. 和夫人. 格里森, 谁有智慧认识到公平接受教育的巨大必要性, and the generosity to provide deserving students with incredible opportunities that set them up for a lifetime of success.”