The Scholarship Foundation joins our partners at rootEd Alliance in celebrating the 31 new scholars who were awarded scholarship grants this school year. See the following press release from rootEd for details:
rootEd Alliance, a national nonprofit that partners with states and rural-serving organizations to help students define and plan their futures following high school graduation, today announced 31 high school graduates from rural communities across Missouri have received scholarships to attend a four-year college or university this year. The rootEd scholarships total up to $12,000 per student annually and are renewable through graduation or up to five years.
rootEd scholarships are “last dollar,” which means they are intended to fill a student’s unmet financial need based on their full cost of attendance after other sources of financial aid are taken into account. These unique scholarships aim to enable rural students to overcome one of the largest barriers preventing them from enrolling in and completing college – a lack of financial resources – and graduate nearly debt-free.
A list of the newly awarded 2024 scholars can be found here.
The program includes two types of scholarships:
- The rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship is available to seniors graduating from a rootEd Missouri school who plan to enroll at an accredited, nonprofit four-year college or university. rootEd Missouri is a partnership between rootEd Alliance, Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC), and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that places dedicated college and career advisors, called rootEd advisors, in rural high schools to help all students define and plan their future following high school graduation and secure a living wage in their future careers.
- The rootEd Community College Transfer Scholarship is available to Missouri community college students who attended a rural high school in the state and who plan to transfer to an accredited, nonprofit four-year college or university.
Jaelynn Crowder
“It is truly an honor to be chosen as a recipient of the rootEd Undergraduate Scholarship,” said Jaelynn Crowder, who has recently enrolled at the University of Central Missouri to study early childhood education. “I have wanted to become a teacher since kindergarten and I’m excited to be on this career journey. This scholarship will enable me to have time to concentrate on my class studies and to be able to apply for teacher’s aide opportunities.”
Since 2018, rootEd scholarships have supported 142 students in funding their progress towards a bachelor’s degree.
“These rootEd scholarships were awarded in recognition of the hard work and dedication these exceptional students have shown in their education and local communities already, and the tremendous potential they show for their future,” said rootEd Alliance Chair Noa Meyer. “We are proud to support this exciting next chapter in these students’ education, and hope the scholarships empower them to continue to achieve great things. Congratulations to all the students!”
The scholarships are administered by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, a well-established nonprofit
providing last-dollar scholarships and interest-free loans to Missouri residents, as well as intensive student support services, financial planning and guidance, and mental health support.
Newly awarded scholars attended an award ceremony and orientation session facilitated by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis in Columbia, MO, July 2024.
About rootEd Alliance
Every rural student should graduate high school on a path to achieve career success and economic stability. rootEd Alliance places dedicated college and career advisors in rural high schools to work with all students to define and plan their futures, whether through a college degree, career credentials, apprenticeships, or military service. Launched in 2018 and now operating in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, and Idaho, rootEd advisors have served 43,000 students at almost 200 high schools. This approach is working: 82% of rootEd students are on track to securing a career that provides a living wage, compared to 41% of all working 21-to 24-year-olds currently earning a living wage. Further, in the 2022 school year, rootEd schools saw a 10% increase in two- and four-year college enrollment compared to a 6% national decline over the same period. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists and family and founder-led businesses, convened by BDT & MSD Partners. For more information, please visit: https://rootEdAlliance.org.
