Life Changing Scholarships

Why I Give — The Shields' Sisters Story Imagine it — five sisters, all coming to Averett in the '50's, all graduating, and as alumni, coming together to fund endowed scholarships for the future. "It's about family." says Barbara Collie '50. "Not just for me and my sisters — some of whom are no longer with us — but for my Averett family too. If we can help make education possible for someone, that's a legacy. A gift forever." Because of the vision and generosity of Barbara J. Collie, Ruth W. Cobbs, Ryland J. Coggins, Judith A. Durham, and Stanley L. Presto — these five sisters are making big dreams and BOLD FUTURES come true for Averett student teachers long beyond their years here.

How you can help Averett has been a leader in education for more than 150 years. Our educational programs have positively influenced the lives of more than 25,000 students. Today, Averett continues to open doors to the future for our students. With the increasing cost of higher education, finding funding sources to assist students has become more and more difficult. Financing the cost of tuition is the number one barrier for students attending a university. Virginians want a better future for their children and understand that in today's economy, the need for a college education is more important than ever before. Parents are willing to sacrifice so that their sons and daughters can earn a college degree; however, for far too many, the sacrifice is becoming too great.

More than one third of Averett's traditional undergraduate students are first-generation college students. They say it best — Caroline Y. is a senior, majoring in history:

"My mom was laid-off from her job due to the state of the economy, and my father is retired from the U.S. Army. My family has been struggling financially the last few years. Scholarship funds have allowed me to continue my education at Averett. I am a junior and plan to be a high-school teacher. I'm a member of the women's basketball team, cross-country team, and helped start the university's first-ever Pep Band. Without your support, students would not be able to meet the financial obligations needed to prepare for our futures. Thank you."

We know you share Averett's commitment to education. Please consider making an investment in scholarship funding, especially in these economically-challenging times, and know it is making a real difference in people's lives — we see it every day on our campus.

For further information on how you can help a student, please contact us.