Newcombe Scholarship Programs
The Foundation Mrs. Newcombe created continues and extends her interest in scholarships but does not make grants directly to individual students. Colleges and universities receive grants from the Foundation for scholarship aid to designated groups of students. Each academic institution is responsible for selection of recipients and scholarship administration according to the Foundation's guidelines. Campus committees of counselors to students and financial aid officers review applications, award scholarships and report to the Foundation. The Foundation's staff arranges conferences annually with program coordinators to facilitate administration and to encourage institutional commitment to the scholarship program. Much of the success of these Newcombe Scholarships has been due to the impressive dedication of program administrators.
Newcombe Scholarships for Mature Women Students
Adult students now comprise a large portion of the enrollment at most colleges and universities, with a majority of these non-traditional students being mature women. The Newcombe Foundation created scholarships for returning or second-career women in 1981. Although at that time adults were appearing as students on many campuses, they were seldom able to qualify for financial aid. While aid formulas have changed over the last 26 years, so that independent and part-time students have increased access to federal, state and institutional aid, educational costs have increased exponentially. The major portion of financial aid now comes in the form of student loans, an especially discouraging factor to mature women students, who typically have family responsibilities. Newcombe Scholarships enable recipients to offset reliance on loans, which can be critical as they manage the costs of tuition, housing, and caring for family members.
- E. W., University of Maryland"If you recall, the early nineties were years of expressions of contempt for "welfare mothers." I felt like a pariah, and that sensation was enormously corrosive. You scholarship was an important gesture of validation when I felt very vulnerable. What I never forgot was the meaningful and lasting gift I was given, in the form of dollars wrapped in respect and admiration. The sense of acceptance I felt remains with me even now... I went on to graduate with a B.S. in Family Studies, and applied my skills to a year of service as an AmeriCorps member. I graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and became a member of the American Bar in 1999. My children have witnessed all of this progress, and I am pleased to say that we now live a middle class life; I am delighted to pay taxes! The kids don't remember food stamps and medical assistance, but have vivid recollections of constant studying, work, and volunteer services."
The Foundation's 2005 grants to this program of Newcombe Scholarships for Mature Women Students totaled $692,000, including $135,000 directed to matching challenges to build Newcombe Endowed Funds. In 2005 grants were awarded to:
- American University
- www.american.edu
- Washington, DC
- Arcadia University
- www.arcadia.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Bloomfield College
- www.bloomfield.edu
- New Jersey
- Cedar Crest College
- www.cedarcrest.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Columbia University /
- School of General Studies
- www.gs.columbia.edu
- New York City
- Fordham University
- www.fordham.edu/fcls
- New York City
- Gannon University
- www.gannon.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Georgian Court University
- www.georgian.edu
- New Jersey
- Gwynedd-Mercy College
- www.gmc.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Hunter College of CUNY
- www.hunter.cuny.edu
- New York City
- Kean University
- www.kean.edu
- New Jersey
- La Salle University
- www.lasalle.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Marywood University
- www.marywood.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Misericordia University
- www.misericordia.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Moravian College
- www.moravian.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Neumann College
- www.neumann.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Rider University
- www.rider.edu
- New Jersey
- Rutgers University Foundation /
- Douglass
- www.douglass.rutgers.edu
- New Jersey
- University College
- www.rutgers.edu
- New Jersey
- Towson University
- www.towson.edu
- Maryland
- University of Maryland
- Baltimore County
- www.umbc.edu
- Maryland
- College Park
- www.umd.edu
- Maryland
- Eastern Shore
- www.umes.edu
- Maryland
- University College
- www.umuc.edu
- Maryland
- University of Scranton
- www.scranton.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Ursinus College
- www.ursinus.edu
- Pennsylvania
- West Chester University
- www.wcupa.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Widener University
- www.widener.edu
- Pennsylvania
- Wilson College
- www.wilson.edu
- Pennsylvania
During 2006-07, the typical recipient of this Newcombe Scholarship for Mature Women was 37 years old, was a good student with a 3.5 GPA, was more likely to be single (66%) than married (34%), and was likely to have children or other dependents (60%). In addition to their studies, the majority of recipients worked full-time or part-time and also volunteered in their communities.
The Foundation has provided a total of $12.2 million in grants since 1981 for Newcombe Scholarships for Mature Women Students. Nearly 14,500 scholarship awards have been recorded at 48 colleges and universities, making it the largest of the Newcombe Scholarship programs in terms of money, of lives affected, and of institutions that have participated in the funding.
The 24 Newcombe Endowed Scholarship Funds that benefit mature women students reached a market value of $3.5 million by spring 2007. Cumulatively, these Funds have produced almost $700,000 in income for Newcombe Scholarships. Colleges and Universities: click here for application information.