On November 10, Give Back gave a $1.5 million to support scholarships at Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC), and Rowan University for students who have faced economic hardships or other challenges, such as the incarceration of a parent or foster care. RCGC, which received $500,000, is Give Back’s first community college partnership in the country and the gift is the largest RCGC has ever received.
In recognition of this historic gift, RCGC unveiled the new Give Back Scholars Library. The newly re-named library will stand as a reminder of the powerful influence that higher education can have over the course of a life and the importance of ensuring every student has access to that life-changing opportunity.
Although to date Give Back has provided opportunities for students enrolling in four-year schools, this latest contribution to a community college marks a new direction for the organization. Because community colleges have open enrollment, this gift will make a degree possible for exceptional young people who may not have been high achievers in high school due to trauma and instability but who have the drive and ability to achieve a college degree.
“Rowan College at Gloucester County is honored to be a partner school of Give Something Back,” said RCGC President Frederick Keating. “We share in their mission to support students as they complete a four-year degree. This gift is the largest our school has received, and it will make a significant difference in the lives of many young men and women.”
The funding provided by Give Back will allow RCGC and Rowan University to build on several longstanding collaborations. Among other initiatives, the scholarships can be used by students in the Rowan Choice program, a partnership that allows RCGC students to live on the Rowan University campus for their first two years of college, immersing themselves in Rowan activities and opportunities while taking classes at RCGC at a reduced cost. Upon successful completion of their associate degree, participants are accepted automatically into the University.