In today’s society, college graduates earn higher wages - as much as 70 percent more for women - than those with high school diplomas, according to the College Board. They are more likely to enjoy employer-provided health insurance and pension benefits and have healthier lifestyles, including lower smoking rates, than individuals who did not graduate from college. In addition, the young children of college graduates display higher levels of school readiness indicators than children of parents who did not graduate from college. Society also benefits when residents earn college degrees. Higher levels of education correspond to lower unemployment and poverty rates. So, in addition to contributing more to tax revenues than others do, adults with higher levels of education are less likely to depend on social safety-net programs, generating decreased demand on public budgets. However, college tuition is rising faster than government aid. To meet the rising costs of college, students rely heavily on loans. The average debt for a college graduate has soared 50 percent in the past decade, after inflation, with the average graduate owing $19,000 in 2005. Many have debt exceeding $40,000.
And for many, a college education is completely out of reach, especially students from low-income families. Nearly one in four high school graduates from low-income families who score in the top testing quartile will not attend college - the same percentage as their lowest-scoring affluent peers. As many as 77 percent of Hartford high school students reported they intended to go to college, according to the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. However, only 39 percent of Hartford students participate in some form of postsecondary education, while 82 percent of students across the state attend. The Hartford Foundation is committed to helping students, especially those with financial need, attend and graduate from college. How the Hartford Foundation Helps In 2007, the Foundation awarded $961,000 in support of scholarships to help nearly 500 area residents - both traditional-aged students and adult learners - attend college. These students attended a broad range of four-year, two-year, and community colleges in Connecticut and throughout the country. While the Foundation’s scholarship recipients reside in many towns throughout the state, more than half reside in Hartford, Manchester, Glastonbury, West Hartford, and East Hartford. Our support comes in several ways. First, the Hartford Foundation’s General Scholarship Endowment Fund pools donors’ contributions to increase impact and awards $3,000 scholarships, which are renewable for up to four years. In 2007, 179 new and renewal scholarships were awarded to area high school graduates attending four-year colleges and universities throughout the country. These students were among the top third of their graduating high school classes, demonstrated financial need, and had been involved in volunteer or extracurricular activities. Second, many generous donors to the Foundation choose to establish individual scholarship funds, which allows them to establish selection criteria and award amounts. In 2007, 180 students – from traditional-aged to graduate students – received scholarships from these funds. The average award was $1,761. Third, we provide support to community colleges for scholarships. With more affordable tuition, flexible schedules and convenient locations, community colleges offer an attractive alternative to higher education. Recognizing the value of this accessible form of education, the Hartford Foundation awarded a total of $100,000 to community colleges and two-year schools in 2007. Those included Asnuntuck Community College, Capital Community College, Charter Oak State College, Goodwin College, and Manchester Community College. These grants benefited 103 students, with an average award of $950. Fourth, we make it easier for community college students to transfer to a four-year college. Many community college students intend to continue their studies at four-year colleges, but mid-college scholarships are extremely difficult to find, and most four-year colleges offer more financial assistance to incoming freshman or limit the number of transfer students accepted into the junior class. In March 2007, the Connecticut Community College System signed an agreement with the Connecticut State University System to streamline the student transfer process. This program offers guaranteed admission to the four state universities for high-performing students attending nine of the state’s community colleges. The Hartford Foundation further supported transfer students in 2007 by awarding scholarship grants totaling $50,000 for students transferring from local community colleges to UConn-Hartford Campus and Central Connecticut State University. In addition, each year, the Foundation publishes a directory of scholarships available to area students from the Foundation and other sources. It is available in searchable format on our website, and 8,000 print copies are distributed to all high schools and libraries in the region. The Support of Donors and Volunteers
Scholarship funds at the Hartford Foundation were created by people and organizations of all types and from throughout Greater Hartford. Their situations very greatly, but they all share one motivation - to help students from this community afford a college education. There are currently 76 funds at the Foundation devoted specifically to scholarships. And many donors have supported the Foundation’s General Scholarship Endowment Fund throughout the years with all level of contributions. Many individuals contribute their time by serving on the Foundation’s scholarship committees. They interview scholarship applicants, attend college fairs, and assist with the selection of recipients.
 Lamonte Aidoo
Hartford Foundation College Scholarship Program and
Alliance Française Harpin/Rohinsky Scholarship recipient, 2004-06
Lincoln University graduate, and Hartford Foundation scholarship recipient, Lamonte Aidoo, was selected to the prestigious Fulbright program. Lamonte was incredibly successful at Lincoln, earning a 3.91 GPA, and is the University’s first Fulbright scholar. Selected by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board, Aidoo is studying in Columbia, South America, researching the plight of Afro-Columbians. The Hartford native and graduate of Weaver High School exclaimed, “I am extremely delighted to be selected for this prestigious award.”  Patricia Nemeth
Asnuntuck Community College scholarship recipient, 2005-07 When Patricia Nemeth graduated high school, she didn’t have the energy to attend college – she was suffering from the loss of her mother. Over the years, she held jobs at a few corporations, but her heart wasn’t in it. What she really wanted was to be a teacher. But with a growing family, going back to school seemed out of reach. “I couldn’t put my whole family in debt to earn my degree,” said Patty. Finally, she sat down with her husband and they worked hard to develop a budget that would allow her to return to school. Depending on a single income has been a challenge for the Nemeth family, but worth it. In May 2008, Patty will graduate near the top of her class with an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Asnuntuck Community College, and will transfer to a four-year college majoring in elementary education. “I would love to teach in Enfield, where I live,” said Patty. “My youngest son will still be in elementary school when I graduate with my teaching certificate.” |
