Scholarships for low-income students driven by community support
Affordability remains one of the biggest obstacles to higher education. This is especially true for low-income students, students of color, first-generation students and foster youth.
COVID-19 has worsened existing barriers for students already up against immense pressure when faced with housing insecurity, food insecurity, insufficient funds to cover textbooks and medical costs, and the need to provide financially for their families. Now more than ever before, student financial aid marks the difference between access to economic mobility and continued cycles of poverty.
Driven by our mission to make higher education attainable for all, College Success Foundation (CSF) manages and administers a variety of scholarships to help low-income students overcome financial barriers. Our scholarship review process begins each spring when community members, higher education partners and CSF staff volunteer for what we call “scholarship reads.” This year we gathered virtually to review and evaluate applications for two of our scholarships for low-income students: the Leadership 1000 Scholarship and the Governors’ Scholarship for Foster Youth.
What we look for in scholarship recipients
To kick off our scholarship reads, volunteers participate in a pre-read training session. This training outlines what we are looking for in our scholarship recipients and how to most fairly evaluate eligibility by identifying and challenging our cognitive biases.
Rather than seek students with perfect grade point averages or ambitious lists of extracurriculars, we consider the context of each student’s unique situation. We weigh factors like home life circumstances, family dynamics, and generational barriers alongside demonstrations of academic promise, determination, and community engagement.
As with years past, 2022’s applicants have persisted through tremendous adversity. Some students have fled from war. Some live in households destabilized by addiction, abuse, incarceration or the threat of deportation. Others balance providing financially for their families or caring for their younger siblings with the demands of homework. Many rely on school environments for a “break” in the onslaught of distress, for access to warm meals and for the enrichment of strong peer relationships. In spite of colossal challenges, these students have persevered in order to shape their bright futures.
Addressing disparities one application at a time
In the United States, higher education is a system upheld by the evaluation of student qualification from the ethnocentric lens of the majority. When student performance is ranked based on the privileges afforded to those with resources, financial stability, collegiate legacy and experienced mentors, entire stratas of scholars are left in the margins. At CSF, we believe true potential lies in a student’s persistence, vision for their future and desire to transform their community.
By focusing on a culturally competent approach to application evaluation, CSF supporters and staff work to repair the disparities in college access. Our primary goal remains the same: make college accessible for the students who stand to benefit the most. But we can’t do it alone. We want to give heartfelt thanks to our CSF community for volunteering your time and thoughtful attention to this process. And most importantly, we want to express our deep gratitude to our applicants. For sharing your stories so vulnerably with us and for embodying inspiring levels of focus and fortitude. We are in constant awe.
Learn how you can change a student’s future by funding a scholarship.