$250,000 Wachovia Gift to Endow Scholars Program

A $250,000 gift from the Wachovia Foundation will endow a program that will provide need-based scholarships to students from diverse, underrepresented populations seeking to study in UGA's College of Education.

As the largest producer of teachers and school administrators in the state, the College has identified the need to further diversify its student body to better serve Georgia's culturally and economically diverse K-12 population.

Many studies indicate that successful K-12 education programs for multicultural children incorporate teachers and education professionals who are also from diverse backgrounds. The Wachovia Scholars Program will help increase the number of minority professionals graduating from the College and their success will help develop more interest in UGA from diverse student populations.

The endowment will support several undergraduate students each year from diverse, underrepresented backgrounds who ultimately, will create greater multiplicity in the education workforce around the state and nation.

In January 2005, the COE will receive the first of three payments over three years to fund the scholarship program. The program will be used as a recruiting tool, focusing on high school freshmen from diverse, underserved student populations throughout Georgia. Scholarships are expected to be available in 2007.

Tuesday, November 9, 2004
WRITER: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mchilds@coe.uga.edu
CONTACT: Lauren Barrett, 706/542-2267, lbarrett@coe.uga.edu