"Fostering Success" Scholarship Initiative

Academic Building

In an effort to remove barriers to higher education for young adults aging out of the Michigan Foster Care System, Aquinas College has created the "Fostering Success" Scholarship Initiative. This initiative will ensure that total assistance from scholarships and grants (including ETV funds, see below) will cover tuition, room, board and book costs for up to two prospective students each academic year.
 
Parameters of Foster Care Scholarships:

  • Selection of up to two recipients will be made by the "Fostering Success" Scholarship Committee.
  • Scholarship selection will be made upon review of application for admission materials after deadline of April 1.
  • Scholarship is for incoming freshmen.
  • Student must be in the Michigan foster care system at the time of high school graduation or be in foster care when student turned 18.
  • Scholarship (tuition, room, board, books and activity fees) and housing will be for the academic year only. Summer classes, parking and other fees or expenses will be the responsibility of the Foster Care Scholarship recipient.
  • Aquinas will cover academic costs only (as determined by the International Student Programs Coordinator and Director of Financial Aid) for students who wish to participate in one of Aquinas' International Programs.
  • Scholarship is renewable each year (up to a maximum of five years) as long as the student maintains full-time status and demonstrates satisfactory academic progress.
  • Up to two scholarships available.

 
Scholarship recipients must:

  • Complete an application for admission and submit all necessary paperwork, including high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores.
  • Complete an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Application with the State of Michigan each semester (ETV funds will be used to offset Aquinas tuition, room and board and activity fees). After completion of your first semester, you must file the Re-determination Application. Compliance is necessary to avoid charges being directly billed to the student. Contact ETV administrators at 1-877-660-6388 with any questions.
  • Have achieved a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale at time of admission.
  • Present ACT Composite of 22 or above or SAT (Critical Reading and Mathematics) score of 1100 or higher.
  • Be residents in the State of Michigan.
  • File a FAFSA prior to the March 1 deadline every year.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the Aquinas College Catalog (according to both academic and financial aid policies).
  • Live on campus or commute from their current foster care home (on-campus housing may not be available during Christmas break).
  • Attend scheduled STAR and Orientation sessions.
  • Work no more than 15 hours per week during the freshmen year.
  • Participate in academic monitoring with designated advisor (meeting twice before mid-term breaks).
  • Have a class attendance rate above 95% (any exception must be approved by designated advisor).
  • Sign release to allow an Aquinas representative to speak with case worker and/or guidance counselor at high school.