President’s Scholarship Initiative passes $20 million mark

Just six months after its launch, The President’s Scholarship Initiative — a three-year, $100-million drive to fund endowed scholarships for Baylor students — has passed the $20 million milestone.

The Baylor family has responded well to President Ken Starr’s challenge, working to support Baylor students and ease the financial burden of higher education for our students. There are many bright, well-qualified students who would love to attend BU but who struggle to afford a Baylor education. Legendary Baylor football coach Grant Teaff communicated the idea well in the new issue of Baylor Magazine (hitting mailboxes this week), speaking to the Baylor family’s need to come together to support the newest members of the family.

Reaching the $20 million mark is a good start, but of course that means we still have $80 million to go. To get there, Baylor will certainly need some large gifts from some wealthy friends — but the initiative also needs gifts from the rest of us, too. Your $1,000, $100, even $10 adds up and, in sum, will make a difference in the life of a Baylor student — not just in the short term, but also in the long term, as endowed scholarships will provide support for Baylor students in perpetuity.

A $10 donation means giving up, what, a couple of Starbucks coffees this week? A $50 donation means skipping taking the family out to eat once this month. Please consider what you can do to help the youngest members of the Baylor family, so that they in turn will be able to support other students after they graduate. To give, or simply to learn more about the initiative, please visit www.baylor.edu/extraordinarystories.

Sic ’em, Baylor family!