Jones Foundation tuition voucher scholarships help Class of 2008
ESU Media Relations
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Last fall, trustees of the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Foundation made an offer to high school seniors in Coffey, Lyon and Osage counties: attend Emporia State University in the fall after you graduate from high school, and the foundation will provide the student a $500 tuition voucher for each of the fall and spring semesters.
At ESU to date, 141 students have taken the Jones Foundation up on its offer, enrolling in fall semester classes.
For Blake Thornburgh, a 2008 Osage City High School graduate, attending Emporia State was already a strong possibility. But the addition of a $1,000 award from the Jones Foundation sealed the deal—as it did for his twin brother, Brock.
“I’d pretty much made up my mind where I was going to go,” Blake said of his college plans. “But the Jones Foundation award definitely made the decision easier.” Blake plans to major in elementary education at ESU, while his brother is looking at graphic arts and computers as possible majors.
Jessica Bluma had ESU high on her list of college picks after she graduated from Burlington High School this spring. “For me, it’s close to home, and the Jones Foundation money did have a major impact in my decision to attend ESU,” she said. Bluma will take some career exploration classes this fall to help her decide between majoring in nursing or education.
Gaylene Schmidt of Hartford offers a parental perspective on the Jones Foundation awards. Schmidt’s daughter, Amber, graduated from Hartford High School this spring, and will be a pre-medicine major at ESU. “I like the idea,” Gaylene said. “It encourages a lot of kids who maybe needed a little extra boost to help them decide to go to college.”
The Jones Foundation’s Tuition Voucher Program offer is for current residents of Coffey, Lyon or Osage counties. Recipients must be either a high school senior graduating in the current school year, or a student who has received a GED in the past two school years.
Participants redeem a certificate awarded by the Jones Foundation for $500 each semester, for a total of $1,000, to attend either Emporia State or Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia. The grant is made during the student’s freshman year only, but may be added to any other scholarship or financial aid the student receives.
“We’re grateful that our students from these three counties are getting some additional grant money,” said Elaine Henrie, ESU registrar and director of financial aid. “It’s a great community service that the Jones Foundation has provided.”
Since 1974, the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Foundation has assisted families seeking financial help with medical, dental and vision expenses. The Foundation also acts on requests from students for help with their postsecondary education expenses in the form of grants for tuition and books.
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Posted by Summer_Breeze (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Jones Foundation is a marvelous organization, which provides real help to young people and their families for educational and medical needs. They were a godsend to my family when our youngest daughter had medical problems in 1980.
The program discussed in this article is a wonderful way to encourage area kids to take advantage of the excellent opportunities offered by ESU. Hopefully it will also encourage them to STAY in the area after graduation. Bravo and thank you to the Jones Foundation!
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