Alyssa JohnsonA $1 million donation from Give Something Back will help provide full-ride scholarships to WSU for about 50 first-generation students who face circumstances making it challenging for them to attend college.
“Wichita State serves the most diverse population of any public university in Kansas, and as such we are committed to helping first-generation students overcome tough obstacles get a college degree,” said WSU President John Bardo. “We are grateful to Give Back for a gift that will greatly enhance our efforts.”
The Illinois-based organization has put an emphasis on assisting students who are foster children and/or have parents who are incarcerated.
“These are students who could use a break … this partnership with Wichita State will make it possible for so many deserving students to go to college and pursue career goals that would otherwise be out of their reach.”
–Robert Carr
Students are selected in the ninth grade so they can participate in college-prep programs and mentoring relationships to improve their chances of success in college. During high school, they must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better and demonstrate strong character.
The Give Back program has about a 90 percent graduation rate for its scholarship recipients.
“These are students who could use a break,” said Give Back Founder and Chairman Robert Carr. “I am very proud that this partnership with Wichita State will make it possible for so many deserving students to go to college and pursue career goals that would otherwise be out of their reach.”
In order to provide full-ride scholarships to the recipients once they graduate from high school and enroll at Wichita State, Wichita State will contribute about $1.4 million to the $1 million gift from Give Back. Scholarships will include tuition, fees, room and board.
The WSU Foundation will raise private funds to help cover the university’s commitment, said Keith Pickus, WSU Foundation vice president.
“It’s a privilege to do what we can to help these students develop their potential for successful careers and lives,” Pickus said. “We’re proud to be associated with a program as remarkable as Give Back.”
Wichita State is the 24th university to receive funding from Give Back. The gift will count toward the Shock the World fundraising campaign for Wichita State, which has a goal of $250 million.
About 75 percent of the goal has been raised to date. One of the top campaign priorities is to increase scholarship dollars to WSU students by 83.5 percent.