ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (June 24, 2021) — An anonymous donor recently contributed to help pay the tuition and fees of 26 Augustana College students.
In an e-mail sent on June 22 directly to the 26 recipients, those students learned that their tuition, room, and board balances had been updated to reflect the gift of the anonymous donor. For many, the gift fully covers their remaining balance.
“The generosity of donors is something Augustana will always be grateful for,” says W Kent Barnds, executive vice president for external relations. “This is especially impactful for the students involved as they can continue to benefit from an Augustana College education.”
“Often those who give to Augustana have been the beneficiaries of past generosity and give today as a way of giving back so that others may benefit,” says Barnds. “Augustana alumni like to pay it forward.
“Much of what is new, growing and innovative on our campus is because donors see the growth and progress, and they raise their hands to help,” adds Barnds.
The college recently completed a capital campaign — Augustana NOW — that raised over $133 million dollars. That campaign raised $8 million over the initial goal — a result that proves how critical stewardship is to the college.
“The people who give to Augustana do so because they believe in the transformative value of a liberal arts education that motivates graduates to be bold problem-solvers in a complex world.”
This is not the first time donors have asked to give to students in such a direct way. Notably, Augustana’s Close the Gap Award was developed by a donor, and it has been funded by 248 donors and aided 900 high-achieving, high-need students since its launch in 2014.
Known for sparking passionate curiosity, Augustana College is an empowering home to explore over 90 areas of study. Augustana’s innovative program, Augie Choice, transforms students into global citizens, thinkers, and doers with a $2,000 grant to explore the world, complete an internship, or conduct research with a professor. Augustana students achieve a balance inside and outside of the classroom; ranking top ten in all divisions for Academic All Americans. Transformed to be different, current students and alumni include health-care heroes, Nobel Prize-winners, CEOs, college presidents, and leaders across all continents. The college enrolls 2,500 curious changemakers who get energized by four years as part of a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.
