Affinity Plus gives 2 students $4,000 scholarships
Many college students face financial difficulties as tuition and the general cost of living continue to rise. Students already go through the hoops and hurdles of financial aid. One core piece of this financial aid is through scholarships. Many of these scholarships are dished out to top performers in the classroom and the communities, and for two MSU students, that hard work has just paid off.
MSU students Grace Tobin and Josephine Ankrah were both awarded $4,000 scholarships given by the Affinity Plus Foundation (APF).
The students are two of twenty Minnesota students who were given these scholarships. The cumulative $80,000 is 30 percent bigger than last year’s program.
Although Ankrah and Tobin did not respond to interview requests, Tobin did talk with Affinity Plus. Tobin, who is from Mankato, is pursuing a Master’s in Secondary Math Education. Ankrah is a junior from Ghana who is currently studying nursing.
Tobin said to Affinity Plus, “My dream is to be an inspiration to girls and other minorities to pursue STEM education,” and “Without a doubt, this scholarship will play a key role in achieving my educational dreams. Scholarships like this allow me more time to focus on my studies, and less time worrying about how to pay for school.”
The APF scholarship application window was open from April 1st and May 31st. Applicants must attend an accredited college or university, be living in or be from any Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union (APFCU) branch and must be in “good standing” with the institution.
The scholarships can be used for tuition and books for the 2024-25 school year. The recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, community service and leadership qualities.
Paige Comer is a Community Engagement Specialist at APFCU. She said in a press release concerning the scholarship, “Higher education opens doors – not just for individuals, but for entire communities.” Comer also said, “Education is a great equalizer for financial inclusion and success; at the Affinity Plus Foundation, we’re passionate about supporting our student members in their educational journeys.”
The Affinity Plus Foundation was created in 2000 and has provided more than $2 million in financial support to students, educators and community organizations across Minnesota.
The foundation also does charitable work in other areas, such as partnering with Feeding America food banks to tackle hunger as well as Junior Achievement North to build financial awareness in youth.
According to Affinity Plus Foundation, which is an independent grant-making foundation affiliated with APFCU, they are “dedicated to ending cycles of financial inequity. By focusing on housing stability, financial well-being, food security and access to education, the organization invests in various programs and initiatives to build stronger local communities across Minnesota.”
Write to ben.livingston@mnsu.edu