Continued community generosity is being credited with providing grants to 87 Boothbay Region High School graduates this year, averaging $5,600 to 30 first-year college students, 54 returning collegians and two working toward graduate degrees.
“Over the past several years more students applied for grants, the community contributed higher totals to the annual fund drive and the average grant increased as well. All in all, a very encouraging trend,” said BRSAF Board President Louise Cowan.
Over 55 years ago, a group of community members who wanted to help BRHS graduates attend college formed the organization. Today, it is led by an all-volunteer board which provides loan-free grants to students.
Grants cover a portion of students’ educational expenses. Community members make contributions in two ways. One is to the annual fund. The second is through contributions or capital gifts in establishing a named fund.
Colleges and other post-secondary institutions use the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine a family's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the student's cost of attendance (COA). The difference between the COA and the EFC is the student's unmet need. Most schools then try to meet that with a financial aid package. “While that package may help, it doesn't generally cover all of the unmet need. BRSAF then uses a needs-based formula to assist with the gap remaining after the financial aid package is applied,” Cowan said.
BRSAF is dedicated to providing grants to support BRHS graduates in good standing and in their first through sixth year at a college or university, community college, or professional training institution. BRHS graduates who return to higher education later in life are also eligible. Often the grants increase after the first year.
Each year, the monies raised during the annual fund drive are combined with funds from investments to fund grants. In the last five years, BRSAF has funded roughly 391 grants, averaging $4,900 and covering approximately 35% of recipients' unmet needs, according to BRSAF officials. “The BRSAF intends to increase that percentage, and to that end, we need the continued generosity of our many donors,” Cowan said.
While the awards are not merit-based, they support aspirations of BRHS graduates to further their education or training in their chosen field.
Recipients are attending a wide variety of schools this year while pursuing career paths. A partial list of schools includes University of Southern California, Rollins College in Florida, Savannah College of Art & Design, Bowdoin College, University of Maine in Orono and Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
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September 10, 2020 at 07:00PM
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BRSAF appreciates continued strong community support - Boothbay Register
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