Scholarship funds available for students have been affected by the weakened national economy, but some experts have hope for the future.
"As college tuition continues to rise, so does the need for scholarship assistance," explains Clarence R. "Reggie" Williams, president and CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation. "Our scholarship donors are dedicated to providing higher education opportunities to area students, even during this challenging economic time.
"While we don't anticipate matching last year's amounts, our goal is to award $350K to $400K in scholarships this year."
Margaret Anne Lara, vice president for communications and product development at the San Antonio Area Foundation, said Wednesday the foundation awarded $726,659 in scholarships to 370 students in 2008. The 2008 awards ranged from $500 to $6,000 each, with an average award of $2,000, according to the association's Web site.
The goal of $350,000 to $400,000 is only 48 to 55 percent of the 2008 awarded amount.
In the 2007-08 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, available on the U.S. Department of Education Web site, 66 percent of all undergraduates interviewed received some type of financial aid, including grants, student loans, work-study jobs and veteran benefits.In addition, 47 percent of undergraduates received federal student aid, and 16 percent received state-funded grants.
The Web site also showed an increase of almost $3 billion for fiscal year 2008 in available funds in the Federal Student Aid program over fiscal year 2007.
According the Web site, there was more than $16 billion in federal aid dispensed to over 5.5 million students in 2008, with the average award being $2,945.
Richard Hernandez, district director for student financial services, said his office has already awarded 4,920 awards totaling $3,438,314 this fiscal year, compared to 5,062 awards totaling $3,202,118 last fiscal year.
Dr. Roland C. DuBay, executive director of the Alamo Community College District Foundation, said the foundation has not seen much of a change in scholarship money offered. In fact, DuBay said last year was the best year for the foundation. The foundation awarded $751,649.69 in scholarships in 2008, compared with $646,600 in 2007.
Joan Barborak, coordinator of donor research for the foundation, said it is too early in the year to determine how scholarship donations are going compared to last year.
"Gifts come in throughout the year as fundraising activities occur year round," Barborak said Wednesday by e-mail.
DuBay added "most of the gift funds are received during the second half of the year," and the donations received by the foundation thus far in 2009 are "a very good sign that the 2008 gift receipts will be exceeded by the end of 2009."
DuBay is hopeful for the future of scholarships once the economy recovers.
"I think it's going to continue to grow," he said. "I think as the economy turns around again, you will see people will have pent-up urges to give."
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