In 2006, Colgate launched a unique gift option for leadership donors to the Unrestricted Annual Fund with exciting stewardship opportunities. With a commitment of $5,000 or more, an Annual Fund Scholarship donor will learn about the impact of his/her gift firsthand from a current Colgate student benefitting from financial aid.
Read more about financial aid at Colgate
In our changed economic environment, access to higher education will become increasingly difficult for students and their families. Colleges and universities who are able to provide increasing levels of financial assistance to qualified students will thrive while schools less able to allocate additional resources to financial aid may be left behind.
Given this scenario, President Jeffrey Herbst has designated financial aid as Colgate’s highest priority. The goal is to make a Colgate education accessible to all students who are capable of, and interested in, the intense level of engagement that Colgate offers, regardless of that applicant’s aid status. Within this overarching goal, the institution has identified three specific areas of opportunity that increased funding for financial aid will address: elevating the academic profile of the institution, increasing socio-economic diversity on campus, and strengthening Colgate’s competitive position in the future. This graph highlights the importance of financial aid.
One important advantage of an Annual Fund Scholarship is that the full amount of a donor’s gift supports current students in the fiscal year in which it is given. The scholarship, therefore, is a gift of immediate impact and provides Colgate great flexibility while fulfilling the university’s commitment to meet the financial need of deserving students. Donors will also be connected with a current student in a meaningful way and will receive a profile and letter from an aid recipient communicating the impact of financial aid on his or her Colgate experience. Listed below are a few of the students who have benefitted from financial aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marilyn Hernandez-Stopp '14
Hometown: Lakewood, Col.
Concentration: Latin American studies
“I am actively involved in several groups and organizations like the Benton Scholars Program and the Latin American Student Organization. I also work for the Office of Communications, and I have been a member of the Multicultural Recruitment Committee as well. I look forward to doing much more on campus and to continue growing as a student, individual, and member of the global community!"
Evan Chartier '14
Hometown: Oak Park, Ill.
Concentration: Sociology and anthropology, and women's studies
"I have organized a new student group on campus, Colgate Advocates for Positive Sexuality. CAPS addresses a wide range of sexuality and gender issues on campus. In addition, my Projects for Peace proposal to study the connection between foreign aid and violence in Kenya and Uganda during summer 2012 was recently funded with a $10,000 grant."
Marvin Vilma '14
Hometown: Springfield Gardens, N.Y.
Concentration: Sociology
“As a native New Yorker, I was initially apprehensive about coming to Colgate, especially due to the change in environment. However, I found there were many things to do on campus that have furthered my personal growth, including getting involved with the Center for Outreach, Volunteerism and Education (COVE). Working with the COVE exposed me to a whole new line of work that I love: social justice.”