Round Rock, TX — Five Texas institutions have been selected to receive TG Charley Wootan Grant awards for the 2016-2017 academic year. The recipients — College of the Mainland, Galveston College, North Central Texas College, Tarrant County Community College District, and Texas State Technical College-Harlingen — will each be given $100,000 in order to provide two-year scholarships to 15 to 20 qualified students seeking a postsecondary education.
Eligible institutions, all public and nonprofit technical or community colleges in Texas, were evaluated based on their commitment to provide evidence-based services that increase student persistence and retention. Those services could include student support such as intrusive advising (proactive, high-contact advising), tutoring, or increased opportunities for student engagement with faculty.
“TG’s research shows that increased social and academic support, coupled with secure financial support in the form of grants or scholarships, enables students to fulfill their higher education goals,” said Kristin Boyer, TG’s director of philanthropy.
Currently, more than 75 percent of Texas freshmen attend public two-year colleges, and more than 40 percent of all Texas students attend school part time. Of those students studying at public two-year colleges, nearly 60 percent are minority students and have substantial unmet financial need.
“The funding will be instrumental in providing much needed scholarships to students involved in the institution’s pilot program for increasing the success rates of male students called the Male Success Initiative (MSI),” said Ron Crumedy, director of financial aid at Galveston College.
“The recipients of the scholarship, identified as TG Scholars, will be equipped with the necessary tools and access to services to enhance academic success toward achieving a certificate or degree.”
As part of this year’s program, qualified students at each of the five Wootan recipient institutions are eligible to receive two-year scholarships of up to $3,195 per year.
Since its inception in 2000, TG’s Charley Wootan Grant program has awarded nearly $30 million in financial aid to students.
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TG is a nonprofit corporation that promotes educational success to help millions of students and families realize their college and career dreams. TG provides critical support to schools, students, and borrowers at every stage of the federal student aid process — from providing information on how to pay for a higher education including financial aid options, to facilitating successful loan repayment after graduation.