Pitzer College Commencement 2019

Named Scholarships

We celebrate and appreciate our generous alumni, parents, trustees, foundations and other friends of Pitzer College who have established or support need-based scholarships to the tremendous benefit of our students’ academic aspirations.

Please explore the information below to learn about the enormous impact of scholarships, to meet some of our student scholars and to see how you can help change lives and build futures through scholarship support. You can also visit our Named Endowed Scholarships page to view a list and descriptions of Pitzer’s existing endowed scholarships. Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected]. 

  • Living our Values

    Every year, Pitzer admits a full class of talented students from all over the world. Students of diverse backgrounds are attracted to Pitzer because they recognize the lifelong values of an education emphasizing social justice, intercultural understanding and environmental sensitivity.

    As interest in a Pitzer education increases, so does the need and demand for financial aid. Scholarships ensure that Pitzer College can admit the very best and most qualified applicants into our prestigious academic program.

    We remain committed to meeting 100 percent of an admitted student’s demonstrated financial need, but it is not easy. Scholarship donors are truly the heart of making a Pitzer education accessible. Through establishing a scholarship, you open doors that would otherwise remain shut.

    Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected].

    “Without donor generosity, my success throughout these four years would not have been possible, and I cannot find the words to sufficiently express how important donations are to so many Pitzer students like me who can excel in higher education but don’t have the resources to make their dreams a reality.” – Allisyn Ruttle ’16

  • Attracting Top Students

    Pitzer remains steadfast in our commitment to be an inclusive, diverse campus and ensure that students from lower- and middle-income families can receive a Pitzer education regardless of economic circumstances. However, many of the best and brightest students do not have the resources to cover the full expense of a Pitzer degree. Through scholarship support, you help lift families over financial obstacles and allow Pitzer to select the strongest, most talented students for admission: a lack of means does not mean a lack of admittance. This keeps Pitzer vibrant.

    Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected].

    – Diego Arroyo ’18
    – Diego Arroyo ’18

    “Thank you so much for providing me an opportunity to continue my studies! As a low-income, first-generation, Latino college student, I have had to face certain financial barriers that I have only been able to overcome through scholarships like yours. I hope to one day have the opportunity to pay it forward to the many students who will enter higher education and will be faced with a multitude of financial barriers. It is my belief that no individual should be denied the opportunity to an education simply because of a lack of economic resources.”

     

  • Decreasing Student-Loan Debt

    Additionally, Pitzer College is deeply committed to helping students leave college with as little debt as possible. It is alarming to realize that there is now greater student loan debt than credit card debt in the US. Through scholarship support, Pitzer students graduate owing 20 percent less in student loans than the national average. In the 2015 U.S.News & World Report Best Colleges publication, Pitzer is ranked #20 among National Liberal Arts Colleges with the Least Student Loan Debt at Graduation.

    Your scholarship support allows students to live out their goals without worrying about repaying massive debt.

    Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected].

    – Forrest Fulgenzi ’18
    – Forrest Fulgenzi ’18

     

    “Thank you for providing me with this gift. It is allowing me to not only finish my studies here at Pitzer, but it is allowing me to pursue my passions without the anxiety of overwhelming student debt.”

  • Staying Competitive

    Pitzer College is ranked among the top schools for its selectivity, and with increasing applications to the College, our selectivity will only increase. Within the amazing students Pitzer accepts, of course, some consider enrolling in other institutions as they contemplate committing Pitzer. It is imperative that we secure additional scholarship contributions so that we can offer competitive financial assistance and enrich our campus community with a diversity of viewpoints, life experiences and ideas about how to change the world. Phenomenal students want to attend Pitzer; your support is needed to get them here and help them stay here.

    Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected].

    “Thank you so much for your support and for making it possible for financially disadvantaged students such as me to attend a great college that will help me develop my future and give me a greater chance of having a thorough foundation for a career.” -Will Ortiz ’19

  • Establishing a Scholarship

    Pitzer College invites you to support students and participate in increasing our ability to provide need-based assistance to those who dream of a obtaining a college degree but do not have the means to fulfill the financial obligations. We encourage you to create your own named endowed scholarship fund in a way that means the most to you. Perhaps no other philanthropy has a greater impact on a student.

    Should your current situation prevent you from establishing your own scholarship fund at present, we invite you to make a gift to any of Pitzer’s existing endowed or annual scholarships, all of which would benefit from your generosity and serve students. A list of those scholarships can be found here.

    Help us provide access to a Pitzer education to aspiring students who need a financial leg-up to earn a college degree and prepare for a future of service, leadership and ideas and that transform the world. Please contact the Office of College Advancement at 909.621.8130 or [email protected] if you have questions or are ready to create a scholarship and change a life.

    – Crystal Sin ’19
    – Crystal Sin ’19

     

     

    “Thank you for providing me the opportunity to reach for a brighter future.”

  • Named Endowed Scholarships

    An endowed scholarship can be established now or created for the future through your estate plan. The principal of your endowed fund—the full amount of your gift—stays intact in perpetuity, with a percentage of the earnings providing the scholarship support. The balance of earnings in excess of the amount approved annually for payout will be retained in the corpus of the fund, allowing your endowment to grow. It is also a wonderful way to honor someone special that influenced you—a family member, a cherished friend or a beloved faculty or staff mentor.

    $100,000

    At this level, your named endowed scholarship may support students with financial need with preferential award criteria that you determine, such as a declared major or area of research interest.

    $50,000

    At this level, your named endowed scholarship will support any admitted Pitzer student with financial need.

    Contact the Office of College Advancement if you have questions about creating or supporting a scholarship: 909.621.8130 or [email protected].

    Feel free to view a list and descriptions of Pitzer’s existing endowed scholarships.

  • The Pitzer Promise Scholarship

    With a gift of $5,000 or more, you can provide a one-year Pitzer Promise Scholarship for a high-achieving student with financial need. You will get to know a little about your scholar and, with your permission, they will learn a little bit about you, too!

    Part of the idea behind the Pitzer Promise Scholarship program is promoting a pay-it-forward ethos, well-expressed by scholarship recipient and alumna Haley Burger ’20:

    “I am very grateful for people like you who value education and understand the impact it can have on a person’s life. I hope I can continue this positive service and pass it forward by helping to change the world in my own way.”

    With a gift to the Pitzer Promise Scholarship, you can help a Pitzer student become an engaged citizen of the world. It’s an investment in our shared future.

     

  • Scholars Say it All

    Thank you for this great honor! The ability to attend Pitzer is a huge privilege, which I am grateful for every day. With this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my academic and career goals more smoothly. My family and I thank you for this kind gesture.

    – Claudia Leon ’17

    As a low-income student who spends far too much time worrying about money, thank you. Without donors such as you, I would not be able to attend this amazing institution. I am forever grateful.

    – Alessandra “Ace” Elliott ’18

    Thank you! With this gift, I will be able to help people as soon as I graduate and begin my life path of helping others immediately (instead of paying off loans). From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for this gift of a lifetime.

    – Claire Hosterman ’16

    Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity—it not only has helped me stay at Pitzer, but has allowed me to grow in ways I would have never imagined.

    – Patricia Bucko ’19

    Coming from a single-parent household, I have seen how hard my mother has worked to support me and give me the best life I could possibly have. I know that paying for college has always been a struggle for her and receiving this scholarship brings us both so much happiness. There truly aren’t enough words to express my gratitude.

    – Hannah Ginsberg ’16

    Without donors like you, I would not be able to attend my dream school. It really makes a difference in the lives of so many passionate students like me.

    – Anya Deering ’17

    Thank you so much for supporting my academic goals. It feels really nice to have someone believe in me! The financial support helps me to reach my life and career goals.

    – Benay O’Connell ’16 

    I appreciate your contribution to my education. Growing up, education was the primary value in my family, and that value has been instilled in me. I am so grateful for any aid I receive that helps me toward my goal.

    – Erin Sullivan ’19

    Thank you! I am so grateful to receive this scholarship. Your generosity will allow me to continue to deepen my studies and push my understanding of the world.

    – Emma Tasini Koger ’18

    I’m so grateful and appreciative to attend Pitzer and wouldn’t be here without the generosity displayed by the donors.

    – Cody Baird ’16

    Thanks for your generosity. You are allowing people the opportunity to find their pathway in life, to find what makes them happy.

    – Nicholas Popkey ’16

    Thank you so much for supporting me and helping me with the wonderful opportunity to attend Pitzer College. I wouldn’t be able to be here and do the things I do without financial aid.

    – Samantha Coss ’19

    Thank you for supporting my academic endeavors! Pitzer is a very special place to me and your generosity makes my attendance at this institution possible. It is truly an honor to be a recipient of this award. Thank you.

    – Kaile Sauro ’17

    You have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school – learning! Your generosity has further inspired me to help others and give back to the community.  I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me. Thank you!

    – Fiona Nugent ’16

    Thank you so much for your generosity! My family and I could not be more grateful for your contribution, it really helps me stay here at Pitzer!

    – Jonah Hamilton ’18

    Thank you so much for your contribution to my education! I really appreciate the support, and I am grateful for your donation.

    – Miranda Roehrick ’17