Central Scholarship Awarded $350,000 Grant from The Abell Foundation

BALTIMORE, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Central Scholarship today announces receiving a $350,000 grant from The Abell Foundation that will be used to provide tuition support to more than 100 Baltimore City residents seeking education beyond high school. Specifically, the grant will provide aid to students seeking non-degree education or training in high-demand fields where there is a critical workforce shortage or where there is a strong need for high-caliber professionals.

"This grant ties directly to a hot-button issue in our nation that college is not for everyone," says Jan Wagner, president of Central Scholarship.

She continues, "We are thrilled to partner with The Abell Foundation on providing an alternative pathway out of poverty for so many local residents. Our community is missing opportunities to steer students to high-demand fields that require less post-secondary education and training. This grant encourages students to take advantage of viable non-degree opportunities that lead to steady, long-term employment with earnings exceeding minimum wage."  

Students who complete such programs often receive technical certificates, which are used as credentials for gainful employment.

According to a national study published by the Lumina Foundation in December 2010, about 750,000 post-secondary certificates were awarded in 2007-2008. The most popular programs among students are healthcare related, which make up 43.3% percent of all certificates nationally. Lumina, a $1 billion private foundation, established a goal of graduating 60% of the US student population with a college degree or with a postsecondary career certificate by 2025.

Central Scholarship's new grant from The Abell Foundation specifically designates funds for students interested in pursuing careers in allied health, construction, building maintenance, and truck driving, among other areas of focus. A portion of the grant funding is specifically earmarked for men.

Central Scholarship has administered numerous grants since the 1920s, establishing a proven model. In 2011 alone, the organization received more than 5,000 student applications, granting an average of $4,000 per student to about 250 applicants.

More than 100 students have already applied for the grant's funds. Funds are being actively distributed on a rolling basis.

How to Apply
To apply, students may visit the "How to Apply" section of Central Scholarship's web site and click the link at the bottom of the page, titled, "right here." To qualify for funds from The Abell Foundation grant, students must have:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Total adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less
• Permanent residency in Baltimore City and the U.S.
• Enrolled or plan to enroll as a full-time student in a non-degree certificate career training program at a community college or approved private career school

Student Questions
For additional information students should contact Senior Program Manager, Angela Harrison, at [email protected].

About Central Scholarship
Central Scholarship enables students to pursue education or training after high school through scholarship opportunities and interest-free loans that fund the gap after all other financial aid has been awarded. Established in 1924 and with more than $1 million in scholarships awarded annually, Central Scholarship screens student applications against dozens of scholarship opportunities according to criteria established by its donors. With a deep connection to its students and the local community, Central Scholarship's uniqueness is in its approach: investing in the future of students, their families and the neighborhoods in which they live.

PRESS CONTACTS

Central Scholarship
Jessica Schmidt-Bonifant, Development Director
410-415-5558
[email protected]

The Abell Foundation
Gil Sandler
410-547-1300

SOURCE Central Scholarship