WPU announces the Coastal Courageous Finish Scholarship
The Coastal Courageous Finish Scholarship is part of the “22 Courageous Gifts in 2022” giving campaign – a campus-wide fundraising initiative at William Peace University (WPU). Donors, like the Coastal Credit Union Foundation, support this initiative by making a courageous commitment that provides our students with the resources they need to learn through immersive experiences, build upon their courage and develop the confidence needed to turn their passion into purpose. These gifts will shape both the future of our University and our students. To learn more or to donate visit 22 in 2022.
WPU is excited to announce the Coastal Courageous Finish Scholarship thanks to the generosity of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation.
The scholarship will provide well-performing junior and senior students with support to overcome remaining financial barriers that could prevent them from completing their education. The scholarship will be awarded to students as soon as the Spring 2022 semester.
The Coastal Credit Union Foundation wants to ensure WPU students have the confidence, and resources, needed to finish their degree, explained Creighton Blackwell, SVP, Chief Culture and Impact Officer at Coastal Credit Union.
“The fund is built to help those who have worked hard to finish their education without the obstacle of financial stress,” Blackwell said. “We want to help remove that financial obstacle and allow those students to be able to finish their education.”
A limited number of scholarships will be awarded to seniors or juniors who have financial challenges which has led to student account balances in excess of the minimum allowed to continue classes. An outstanding balance could keep them from completing their degree or registering for the following semester; however, this scholarship will meet the remaining balance.
“We are grateful for Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s courageous commitment to WPU,” said Jodi Stamey, Vice President for Advancement. “The scholarship shows their confidence in our university and in the abilities of our students who just need a bit of extra assistance to cross the finish line.”
The leading cause of students dropping out of college is monetary stress, according to the Education Data Initiative. Alongside this, an average of 40% of undergraduate students drop out of school each year.
“We have seen way too many stories and statistics that show the number of students who were one to two semesters away from completing their degrees but could not finish because they didn’t have the money,” Blackwell said. “Being a financial institution built to increase the financial well-being of its members and communities, we created this scholarship as a way of providing a tangible solution to that direct issue.”
While this gift impacts students financially, it also gives them the courageous confidence needed to finish their degrees. To Blackwell, courageous confidence means having the drive to take actions that will make a difference, whether that be in completing courses or in giving students the means to complete those courses.
“This scholarship directly embodies [courageous confidence],” Blackwell said. “It impacts students to be more and allows them to complete that long-fought journey of obtaining their degree and setting up their life to have more options for success.”
Students who qualify and are interested in applying for the Coastal Courageous Finish Scholarship can contact the Office of Financial Aid for the application. If you are interested in joining the Coastal Credit Union Foundation in courageously supporting students as they complete their education, please visit the WPU giving page and designate your gift to student scholarships.