Millennial alumni support financial aid
Last year, Colgate began the Millennial Scholarship Program (MSP) to engage alumni of the millennial generation in support of financial aid. Funds raised through individual gifts and a year-long series of events combine to support scholarships for deserving Colgate students. Collective gifts of $10,000 will result in the naming of a Millennial Scholar. The goal is to raise one or more $10,000 scholarships, providing Colgate students with financial assistance for that year.
During its inaugural year, the MSP held trivia nights in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York City. Through attendee registration and additional gifts from millennial alumni, a total of $14,589 was contributed to the scholarship, providing support for current students this year.
Now, in the program’s second year, thirteen millennial alumni have stepped forward to create the first Millennial Scholarship Program Leadership Committee. Co-chairs, Katie Aretz ’07 and Michael Tone ’07 are joined by Alexa Arias ’06, Rebecca Brereton ’07, Brian Dinneen ’06, Michael Fish ’05, Ashley Kepping ’07, Evan Lorey ’10, Allison Pendleton ’08, Tyson Seely ’07, Safwan Shabab ’10, Megan Sobel ’06, and Brian Yellin ’06 to help share the importance of giving back to Colgate.
The MSP demonstrates that participation does matter, as gifts of any amount accumulate quickly to have a real impact on current Colgate students. A $10,000 MSP scholarship provides the same level of support in a given year, as a $200,000 endowed scholarship fund. “Together, our support can go farther and our impact will be greater. Our individual gifts of $13, $100, $1,000, or any amount, can combine and really make a difference for deserving Colgate students,” says co-chair, Michael Tone.
“I was surprised to find out that tuition only covers approximately 66 percent of a student’s total education expenses and that, even though my parents paid full tuition, the true cost of my education was covered in part by contributions that alumni, parents, and friends made to Colgate,” said Andrea Horak ‘12
In the spring of 2012, the MSP Leadership Committee will be hosting additional trivia nights and other events in support of the MSP and financial aid at Colgate. If you would like to learn more about the MSP, or would like to participate in upcoming events or initiatives, please contact Virginia Close, assistant director of the annual fund, at vclose@colgate.edu or 315-228-7037.