The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) club on campus is raising money in hopes of awarding a scholarship to a first-generation college student at Southern Oregon University. The club is looking for donors to help make this scholarship a reality and in turn help an underprivileged student stay in school and finish their education.
This is part of the national “First in the Family” scholarship that NSCS chapters across the country are fundraising for. If the chapter raises a certain amount of money for the national scholarship, a percentage of the funds raised will come back to benefit SOU students.
The SOU NSCS chapter’s current goal is to raise $1,500 by the recently-extended March 31 deadline. As of January 27, the SOU chapter is leading the nation after raising $700.
NSCS Treasurer and Fundraising Coordinator Muriel Sadleir Hart says that the club “understands that students have limited resources, but just $10 would go a long way.” She also asks both staff and faculty to consider donating.
Sadleir Hart says it truly needs to be a campus-wide effort to “help those who can’t help themselves.”
First-generation students often have trouble staying in school because their parents generally have little prior experience with the university system. Also, first-generation students tend to require more financial assistance than those from families with a history of higher education. NSCS recognizes this as a problem, and hopes to help through the First in the Family Scholarship.
Sadleir Hart concludes by asking students to “think of others, and to do so through this great scholarship.”
More information and the site to donate can be found at www. Razoo.com/story/Muriel-Hart-Fundraising-For-First-In-The-Family-Scholarship-Fund.
NSCS is a national organization with over one million members, including 120 just at SOU. NSCS focuses on helping students succeed in school while also giving back to their local communities. To join the local NSCS chapter, a first time fee of $95 is required as well as GPA of 3.4. The club seeks to continue to pursue many different volunteer and service opportunities this year, including an Integrity Week from February 3-8, featuring a variety of speakers discussing the values of integrity in school and the wider world.