Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance Scholarship Fund
About the Dreamkeepers Program
Scholarship America's mission is to mobilize America, through scholarships and educational support, to make postsecondary success possible for all students. It is embarking in the next 50 years with an ambitious plan and a goal to help 750,000 students complete their education. The vision of Scholarship America is one of a world in which the completion of higher education with manageable debt is a reality for all.
About the Fund
The Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program helps the University of Maryland provide assistance to students at risk of dropping out due to unexpected financial dilemmas. Whether it’s tending to a health care bill or a sudden reduction in work hours, unforeseen crises contribute to high rates of attrition among college students. They also impact college completion rates and, ultimately, pose a challenge to securing a better financial future.
Colleges that have implemented the Dreamkeepers program have seen retention rates skyrocket from an average of 51 percent to 72 percent, helping students overcome financial hurdles and assuring that they don't have to choose between a financial emergency and staying in school. During the first three years of the program, Dreamkeepers provided more than $1 million in total emergency assistance to nearly 2,500 students. In the year 2007, the average Dreamkeepers award was $567.
The Dreamkeepers program at the University of Maryland was initially made possible through a grant provided by The Wal-Mart Foundation. The ongoing charitable support of friends and supporters of the University of Maryland continues to make the Dreamkeepers program possible.
How to Apply
Dreamkeepers provides assistance to students at risk of dropping out of college due to unexpected financial emergencies. Dreamkeepers assistance was created to help students stay in college and meet their educational goals, ultimately, securing a better financial future.
In order to qualify for the Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Grant, students must meet the following criteria:
- Undergraduate student at the University of Maryland in a degree-seeking program
- Registered during the semester when your application is received
- Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress/Good Academic Standing
- Have a FAFSA form on file for the current school year
The list of expenses the Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Grant can be used to assist students with includes:
- Utilities
- Housing/Rent
- Food/Meals
- Medical/Dental expenses
- Personal automobile expenses
- Public transportation/bus pass
- Child care
- Gas
For more information on applying, please contact Malina Heng with the Office of Student Financial Aid at mheng@umd.edu or 301-314-9859.