The price of higher education has gotten so high that many parents begin saving for their children’s college expenses as early as the day they learn they’re pregnant. Some families find it impossible to aid their children with university costs, relying on financial aid and scholarships.
For the past 10 years, Dunkin’ Donuts has been putting forth the effort to help those families.
The Dunkin’ Donuts Scholarship Program is the result of collaboration between Dunkin’ Donuts, Scholarship America and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Together, the three select and evaluate which candidates are eligible and most qualified to receive the scholarship. The scholarship is open to students in Rhode Island, Bristol County, Connecticut, Western MA, New Hampshire and the Greater Philadelphia region.
After the Dunkin’ Donuts trinity chooses the winners, each student gets $1000 to use toward their continued education.
Since the start of the scholarship, participating Dunkin’ Donuts franchises have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving students.
This past Tuesday, another group of 50 students were chosen for the Dunkin’ Donuts Scholarship Program.
“These kids work so hard throughout the year and it’s so challenging now to get into school and all of the competitiveness now in the area,” said Molly Burt, a spokesperson for Dunkin’ Donuts.
Winners of the scholarship were interviewed by ABC.
“It’s such a great program for us and so lucky to have won and happy for all the other recipients,” said scholarship winner, Erin Bertrand.
Erin’s mother, Laureen, added, “Erin has worked really hard in school and applying for this scholarship so we were ecstatic when she got this.”
Another winner, Danielle Loynd stated, “It feels awesome just to like know it’s a breath of fresh air so it’s like less money that I have to worry about.”
“I am extremely proud. I’m really overwhelmed being helped by scholarships. It’s nice to know there are people out there supporting our kids so they can get to college,” Kelly Loynd, Danielle’s mother, explains.
Dunkin’ Donuts scholarship winners are chosen because of their good grades. That’s not the only qualifier, though. Students are also singled out because of their contributions to their community as well as their overall character.
The scholarship might not seem like much, but for a student just entering college that $1000 can serve as a morale boost. The stress of paying for university can weigh on a student’s mind until long after they graduate. Dunkin’ Donuts has helped take one step toward alleviating that anxiety.
[ Image courtesy of Foot Hills Media Group ]
