Colorado State University Unveils Students First Scholarship Initiative
Wednesday, October 22, 1997
FORT COLLINS--Colorado State University's first
universitywide scholarship fund-raising initiative will be
introduced to the public Oct. 24 at a special dessert reception
for invited guests.
The Students First Scholarship Initiative is a five-year
program designed to increase scholarship gifts from alumni,
friends, corporations, organizations, associations and
foundations to all existing and new scholarship funds. The
reception, held as part of Family Weekend activities, will run 8-
9:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center North Ballroom.
"Our overarching challenge now is to take Colorado State
University to the next level...transforming our campus into a
place that puts the needs and interests of students first," said
Colorado State President Albert Yates.
"The Students First program is an exciting initiative that
reflects the priority of students at Colorado State," said Keith
Miser, vice president for Student Affairs. "This is a new
dimension and a new direction to put students first and help them
with their school and financial needs."
The silent phase of the Students First five-year fundraising
initiative began in the 1995-96 academic year and continued
through the 1996-97 academic year. Within that time, $6.9 million
was raised in gifts for university, college and athletic
scholarships. A goal of $15 million has been set for the end of
the 2000-2001 academic year.
Funding generated by the Students First Scholarship
Initiative will enable many students who have ability and desire
to come to Colorado State and reach their educational goals.
"Colorado State University is often approached by
corporations with scholarship opportunities where we must provide
matching funds in order to receive the donation or gift. By
increasing our funds available for matching, we can literally
double the scholarship money available for our students," Miser
said.
During the current academic year, one of the focus areas for
increasing the number of special scholarship funds is the
University Honors Program Scholarships for academically
exceptional students.
"There is nothing more inspiring than to see a student grow
in his or her ability to articulate complex issues over four
years, come back from a year abroad fluent in Danish, or win a
$14,000 Goldwater Scholarship due to research in a biochemistry
lab begun as a freshman," said Colorado State Provost David
Young. "The supportive environment provided by the University
Honors Program helps students realize that they are good enough
to compete with graduates from the other fine institutions of
higher education in this country."
The Martin Luther King Jr. Graduate Scholarship Endowment is
another of the many programs that will benefit from the Students
First Initiative. The scholarship endowment was established at
Colorado State in 1996. Devona Dixon, 1996 scholarship recipient
and graduate student in individualized merchandising, believes
the Students First Scholarship Initiative will help students like
her continue their education.
"I'm the first one in my family who's gone this far. I'm
even the first one to go to college, let alone the first one to
go for a master's degree," Dixon said. "After I graduate, I want
to have my own magazine for African-American teenage girls
because they need something to look forward to that will help
them realize their full potential."
For more information about the Students First Scholarship
Initiative, contact Beth Hill in the
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at (970) 491-
5312.
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