The Finish Line Fund
Dear Friends,
Imagine how transformative it would be if the Irvin D. Reid Honors College were tuition-free. Of course, nearly all Honors students receive some scholarship support, and some (about twenty per year) receive coveted "full rides," but what if all did? Think about how that would impact our ability to attract, retain, and nurture top talent right here in Detroit.
It's a big dream with a big price--tagbut suppose we start with the senior year? That's more doable--but we have to start somewhere.
That's why we've launched the Finish Line Fund in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. The Finish Line Fund provides financial support to outstanding seniors selected for academic achievement and financial need. The idea is to enable them to focus on their next steps professional school, graduate school, or career without worrying about additional debt.
In our inaugural year we were able to offer six $1000 scholarships--nearly enough to cover a 3-credit class, or to buy books for a semester. Our goal is to expand the number of recipients each year and eventually to increase the award amount, with a long-term goal of making the Honors College senior year tuition-free.
You can help by making a contribution of any amount to the Finish Line Endowed Fund, which will generate interest investment income each year in perpetuity.
Want to do more? You can also join our campaign as a Founder or Friend:
Founders: With a gift of at least $5000 a year for five years, you can create your own named Finish Line endowment. My own scholarship, the Dean Corvino Endowed scholarship, is an example.
Friends: With a gift of at least $1000 a year for three years, you can become a Finish Line Friend. Instead of going toward the endowment, gifts from Finish Line Friends are awarded right away, allowing us to support more students immediately. (Be sure to designate "Finish Line Expendable Fund" if you want your gift spent right away.)
Every contribution gets us closer to our long-term goalwhile supporting our outstanding students. For more information, please contact my colleague Mary Barden at m.barden@wayne.edu. And check out the video below with testimonials from some of our Finish Line scholars.
With gratitude,
