Helping Students In Need
Stephanie Cannon '06 December 13, 2013 9:41 AM
By Roberto Molar Candanosa ’13
Many former students can remember being a broke college student with a tight budget and a diet heavy on ramen noodles. It is a different situation altogether to be truly penniless, facing an uncertain future with no funds to pay for school, rent or other bills.
For those students in truly dire financial straits, the Division of Student Affairs operates the Student Assistance Fund, funded in part by donors to The Association of Former Students. Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Reber said the fund is often a student’s last resource before they have to leave Texas A&M.
“The program helps transition students from one semester to the next who can then be successful, graduate, hopefully land a good job and succeed in their career,” Reber said.
Students helped by the program come from different backgrounds. While some may be homeless or undergoing an emotional crisis, others may be unable to pay for health services, tuition, monthly bills or unexpected financial burdens.
Sometimes good students are simply caught in unfortunate situations. Reber recalled how the fund helped a student who had lost his scholarship after a wretched semester. “We had a student with a 2.74 GPR who needed a 2.75,” Reber said. “He lost his scholarship and was counting on no parental support—he was left out in the streets with no money coming in and trying to stay in school.”
The generous donors to The Association of Former Students’ Annual Fund help make the Student Assistance Fund possible. Former students’ gifts assist 40 to 50 students every year, funding between $750 and $1,500 per student. Additionally, students impacted by the fund experience the power of the Aggie Network and are encouraged to give back to Texas A&M once they become successful professionals.
“We are doing whatever we can to help keep good Aggies in school,” Reber said.
Financial support of the Student Assistance Fund is just one of the many ways Texas A&M is impacted by the generous donors to The Association's Annual Fund. Click to see more ways in which your gifts make an impact on Texas A&M students, faculty and staff.
Many former students can remember being a broke college student with a tight budget and a diet heavy on ramen noodles. It is a different situation altogether to be truly penniless, facing an uncertain future with no funds to pay for school, rent or other bills.
For those students in truly dire financial straits, the Division of Student Affairs operates the Student Assistance Fund, funded in part by donors to The Association of Former Students. Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Reber said the fund is often a student’s last resource before they have to leave Texas A&M.
“The program helps transition students from one semester to the next who can then be successful, graduate, hopefully land a good job and succeed in their career,” Reber said.
Students helped by the program come from different backgrounds. While some may be homeless or undergoing an emotional crisis, others may be unable to pay for health services, tuition, monthly bills or unexpected financial burdens.
Sometimes good students are simply caught in unfortunate situations. Reber recalled how the fund helped a student who had lost his scholarship after a wretched semester. “We had a student with a 2.74 GPR who needed a 2.75,” Reber said. “He lost his scholarship and was counting on no parental support—he was left out in the streets with no money coming in and trying to stay in school.”
The generous donors to The Association of Former Students’ Annual Fund help make the Student Assistance Fund possible. Former students’ gifts assist 40 to 50 students every year, funding between $750 and $1,500 per student. Additionally, students impacted by the fund experience the power of the Aggie Network and are encouraged to give back to Texas A&M once they become successful professionals.
“We are doing whatever we can to help keep good Aggies in school,” Reber said.
Financial support of the Student Assistance Fund is just one of the many ways Texas A&M is impacted by the generous donors to The Association's Annual Fund. Click to see more ways in which your gifts make an impact on Texas A&M students, faculty and staff.
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