Educational equity scholarships prioritize diversity

The College of Arts and Architecture and its supporters have established six scholarships as part of Penn State’s recently concluded Educational Equity Scholarship Matching Program to support diversity across the institution.

Through gifts and 1:1 matches from University funds, the endowed funds now total $300,000, which will generate support for students who have a demonstrated financial need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses and whose gender, race, ethnic, cultural and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the student body.

The newly endowed scholarships include:

• Mary E. Godfrey Educational Equity Scholarship, established by the College of Arts and Architecture administration to honor Godfrey, an art education professor from 1956 to 1979 and Penn State’s first Black faculty member.
• Earl A. Crossland Educational Equity Scholarship, established by Crossland (’71 B.S. Arch.).
• Mimi U. Coppersmith Educational Equity Scholarship, established by Coppersmith (’53 B.A. Journ).
• Ouwehand Educational Equity Scholarship, established by Pieter and Lida Ouwehand, non-alumni community members and recipients of the 2016 Center for the Performing Arts Distinguished Service Award.
• Witkin Hults + Partners Educational Equity Scholarship, established by Andrew Witkin (’79 B.S. Larch), partner in the landscape architecture firm located in Hollywood, Florida.
• Perkins Educational Equity Scholarship, established by John Perkins (’81 B.S. Arch).

College of Arts and Architecture Dean B. Stephen Carpenter II said the scholarships are evidence of the college’s commitment to prioritize critical leadership and meaningful actions in support of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.

These scholarships, Carpenter said, respond directly to two goals in the college’s strategic plan that seek to enable transformative arts and design opportunities and to establish a culture that promotes equity through values, policies and practices.

“While I recognize these scholarships will not eradicate all financial need or resolve demographic disparities, they are appropriate and impactful steps to assist some students who might not otherwise be able to study with us in the college,” Carpenter said. “These scholarships also reflect the importance that alumni and friends of the college place on reducing financial barriers some students face in their pursuit of an education in the arts.”

These gifts will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hard-working students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.