Scholarship challenge hits 82 percent participation

Besting last year’s 79 percent participation rate, the Emporia State University campus has reached 82 percent participation in the annual Campus/Community Scholarship Challenge, and now the challenge turns to the community.

The Challenge raises funds each year for the Presidential Academic Awards, ESU’s most powerful recruiting tool. The PAAs are reserved for incoming freshmen and transfer students, awarded automatically based on academic achievement. In this academic year, 541 students earned the scholarship, totaling $383,750. Since its inception, the PAA program has doled out $2.75 million to 4,350 students.

On campus, 82 percent of faculty and staff supported scholarships as a result of this spring’s Scholarship Challenge. Four out of five, or 80 percent, donated directly to PAA scholarships – compared to a national average of 17.5 percent for similar campaigns. Students are routinely surprised to hear just how many of ESU’s faculty and staff members believe in scholarships.

“When I was told that so many faculty and staff donate to PAA awards, it was reassuring knowing that so many people at ESU care about students,” said Kimberly Stephens, freshman biology major from Bonner Springs. “I’m here because I received a PAA award.”

The Challenge kicked off in early February, and transitioned to the community phase last week. In the week of March 27 to 31, one local business each day will donate a portion of proceeds to Presidential Academic Awards. On Monday, March 27, it’s Bobby D’s Merchant Street BBQ. Wings is on Tuesday, followed by Casa Ramos, Wednesday; Javacat Express, Thursday; and Pyramid Pizza, Friday.

“We can’t thank our campus and community enough,” said Andrew Dame, associate director of annual giving at the ESU Foundation. “Their generous donations are on the leading edge of recruiting top-quality students to Emporia, and it goes so far beyond that. A couple years down the road, when these students graduate and enter the workforce, they become the leaders of Lyon County and Kansas.”

For more information on PAAs or the Challenge, contact the ESU Foundation at (620) 341-5440.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>