Admissions
May 26, 2017
[Photo credit, left to right: (back row) Vanessa Juarez Morales, True Overlie, Daniella Perez, Sonny Ray Olguin, Pema Dema, Devonna Begay; (front row) Cassy Esparza (UP Admissions Counselor), Angelina Henry, Daniela Salas
Eight students from New Mexico will attend the University of Portland on a full ride scholarship this upcoming fall, thanks to the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, which provides access to higher education for students who will be first in their families to earn a four-year college degree.
The scholarship program, which is entering the first year of a three-year, $11.6 million commitment from Santa Fe resident Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, provides unprecedented access to higher education for students who have successfully completed rigorous college preparatory coursework in high school and who have completed college access programs around the state. The scholarship covers tuition, room, board, travel, books, incidentals, and even provides a stipend for parents to visit their son or daughter in college each year. Awardees must be the first in their families to earn a four-year college degree and/or have a family income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
First generation (FGEN) students are defined by the University of Portland as those who are members of the first generation within their family to attend any type of college. Approximately 10 percent of the University of Portland student population comes from a family with no college background.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity from the Davis Scholarship for these eight students to receive a full scholarship to the University of Portland,” said Jason McDonald, Dean of Admissions. “The number of first generation students at the University is growing steadily, due in large part to the strong network of support and resources we offer them, both academically, financially, and socially.”
The University’s Shepard Academic Resource Center serves as a resource for all FGEN students and their families to ensure a smooth and successful transition from high school to college life and beyond. Through counseling, workshops, and social events throughout the academic year, first generation students have continuous support throughout their time at the University.
The University of Portland is one of only six colleges and universities who can be considered for the Davis New Mexico Scholarship by its recipients. The Scholarship Partner Colleges also include St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX), University of Denver, Lawrence University (Appleton, WI), Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX), and Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA).
The Davis New Mexico Scholarship
The Davis New Mexico Scholarship is the largest private scholarship in New Mexico’s history designed to support New Mexican students who want to pursue higher education outside of the state and addresses a deep need. Statewide, fewer than 1 in 3 New Mexicans ages 25-34 have attained a college degree and, in 2015, New Mexico received a D+ on a national report grading states on how well they prepare students for college and careers. The Davis New Mexico Scholarship addresses these challenges by providing college readiness programs for students before they enter college and then supporting them completely as they pursue a college degree. Thus far, the scholarship program has been successful in its mission; to date, the program boasts a 100% college retention rate.
“The goal of the scholarship is to provide students with everything they need to be successful when they attend school,” explains Sam Ritter, the director of the Davis New Mexico Scholarship. “Davis New Mexico Scholars have the academic prowess to excel at their chosen institutions, and our responsibility is to make sure they are adequately supported to achieve to their fullest potential.”
For more information on the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, visit https://breakthroughsantafe.org/davis/
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