The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

New data has dropped for 2024! Presenting data in an interactive format on the Foundation’s website is an important part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to accountability and transparency. Here are a few of the top headlines: -The Scholarship Foundation provided funding of just over $6.5M to 554 students in 2024. Both the total and the number of students awarded are 10-year highs. -Total loans of $1.219M decreased by 6% from the previous year, and total grants increased by 16% to a new high of $5.28M. -Foundation scholars have a graduation rate of 72%, well above the recent national benchmark average for all students of 64% and far better than the latest benchmark from the Pell Institute for low-income students of 16%. The Scholarship Foundation’s Equity Dashboard now includes 4 years of data, demonstrating continued commitment to matters of racial and economic equity. Dig into all the data here: https://lnkd.in/gvaNb9yW

Remembering dear friend and former board member, Richard Atkins. "He was president of TDP/St. Louis, Inc., an architectural, engineering, and planning firm which he founded in 1980. He was a member of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis, where he previously served a term as president. He was a member of Centennial Housing Corporation Board of Directors, on the Board of Trustees of Coleman-Wright CME Church, and served on the Portfolio Gallery and Education Center Board of Directors. He was a proud graduate of Howard University." Read more about Richard, including a fascinating interview with him in 2020, on the blog. https://lnkd.in/gh7PGUbm

Important tips on interpreting a new legislative session from The Scholarship Foundation's Advocacy Fellows, now on the blog! "We continue to stand in support of just laws and effective policies ... and to oppose governmental and institutional actions that work against democratic principles and access to quality education." #college #scholarship #advocacy https://lnkd.in/gvt-H5uX

As 2024 comes to a close, read about what PERSISTENCE looks like for Foundation students and advisors as small colleges close and barriers to higher education continue to go up across the country and in our community. #college #scholarship https://lnkd.in/eszr7aWR

Please join us in celebrating the eighth cohort of BJC Scholars who started their college journeys this fall. Thank you, BJC Health System, for your partnership and for sharing this story about the newest class of scholars! https://lnkd.in/g5hhk6VE

New on the blog, Executive Director Faith Sandler addresses the power of education and the critical importance of student safety. "...it is our mission and our duty to not just provide for young people who wish to continue their education beyond high school but to protect their right to learn and their safety as they exercise that right." #collegesafety https://lnkd.in/guNygipq

"The decision to attend college is an educational and financial one and can be life-altering. Students need objective information to make good decisions, so that their college choices help and do not hurt them financially." The Scholarship Foundation puts students' best interests at the center of everything it does. For this reason, a new college financial solvency watch list is now available on the website. https://lnkd.in/gpzn5SvB

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of representing The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis in collaboration with The Little Bit Foundation at their Virtual Transferable Skills Seminar, hosted at McCluer High School. This event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with local high school students, both in-person and virtually, to discuss the resources available to help them navigate financial aid funding for post-secondary education. During the seminar, I covered topics such as: *Techniques for effectively searching for scholarships tailored to students’ unique needs. *A breakdown of various types of educational funding options. *Insight into the diverse services, opportunities, and support offered by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. Educating and assisting young people with the knowledge and tools to achieve their academic and career goals is truly my passion. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting and guiding students as they navigate the often complex journey of higher education. Seeing them gain confidence in their future is incredibly rewarding! A big thank you to William Z. Hardrick, Jr. and the entire team at The Little Bit Foundation for organizing such a fun and impactful event! Looking forward to more collaborations and moments of growth and inspiration that uplifts young people in the community.

Deciding whether and where to attend college is one of the biggest financial decisions a student can make. In a time when colleges are closing at an unprecedented rate in the US, The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis provides guidance to students regarding the importance of understanding their college’s financial solvency. The Foundation’s new college watch list is now available and included in a recent article from the Missouri Business Alert. Executive Director Faith Sandler is quoted in the article. “It's never fun to be the bearer of bad news,” she said. “So our view about this information and these watch lists is that it's a public service, even if it's unpleasant.” For assistance with important college decisions, students are encouraged to reach out to a Scholarship Foundation student advisor at info@sfstl.org or 314-725-7990. https://lnkd.in/gyyu_PUu

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