More than 1900
donors have contributed to the Elevate Scholarship InitiativeAs of 3/31/24
Contact Us
Fax: 202-885-1334
Office of Development
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8023
United States
Each student comes to AU with a dream, a goal, maybe even a plan鈥攖o seek new experiences, reach graduation, and go on to live a life of purpose. An important premise of their dream is the ability to fund their education. But unexpected financial stressors such as parental job loss, illness, or death, or other financial developments can disrupt even the most carefully laid plans. Each year, as many as 500 undergraduate students seek additional financial resources from the university after experiencing a change in their financial circumstances.聽
Elevate Scholarship Initiative
AU鈥檚 Elevate Scholarship Initiative is a philanthropic effort to raise $25 million to support undergraduate students enrolled at AU. The university is matching this investment, doubling donors鈥 impact. The initiative will ensure more students can continue their AU experience, reach their full potential, and share their contributions as changemakers with the world.聽聽
Join us. Because we know鈥擟hange Can鈥檛 Wait.聽
An anonymous alum gave $2M
in unrestricted scholarship support to launch the initiativeWe鈥檝e raised almost $15M
towards this initiative so farAs of 3/31/24
Our Community鈥檚 Commitment to AU Changemakers聽
AU students are bold learners who transform ideas into meaningful actions鈥攃hangemakers who will make a difference in the world. The AU community knows that an Eagle鈥檚 path may change for many reasons鈥攂ut unexpected financial changes shouldn鈥檛 block someone from a full AU experience.聽
Ways You Can Join Us
Support the Elevate Scholarship Endowed Fund
An anonymous donor鈥檚 endowed gift of $2 million in unrestricted scholarship support kickstarted this initiative. Additional gifts may be contributed to this fund to grow this important endowment.
Endow Named Elevate Scholarships
Unrestricted endowed scholarship funds that provide the university with the flexibility to accommodate any undergrad聽demonstrating financial need.聽
Give to the AU Fund for Student Support
Gifts of any size can help augment financial aid resources with flexible funds that are available immediately鈥攚hen and where they are needed most.
Pursuing Pathways to Purpose
The Elevate Scholarship Initiative鈥攁 vital component of the Change Can鈥檛 Wait Campaign鈥攈elps students remain at AU, alleviates financial stress, and supports their emotional, mental, and physical well-being. As a result, students can thrive on campus and beyond. They can pursue research and career development activities, study聽abroad, and sought-after internships that are frequently unpaid.聽
Read stories of scholarship impact at聽AU.聽
A Return to AU Marks New Beginning
Change Can鈥檛 Wait is not just a slogan鈥攊t鈥檚 a format that is being followed.
A lot can change over nine years. But for Terwase Tor-Agbidye, SIS/BA 鈥23, the desire to complete her degree from 91制片厂 remained constant. Energized by a scholarship and a vision for a more equitable world, she is back on campus to fulfill her dream.
SOC is Exactly Where I Need to Be
I can't imagine going to college anywhere else...the scholarship let me stay.
When the time came to think about his college major, Lucas Torregrossa, SOC/BA 鈥25, took stock. Led to study public relations, he wanted a place where learning was channeled through real-world experiences. AU鈥檚 School of Communication (SOC) was that place.
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A changemaker since childhood, Lily Larsen, SPA/BA 鈥23, embraces the power of conversation to bring people together.
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Jadyn Newman, SOC-SPA/BA 鈥23, channels her passions for research and storytelling through filmmaking at AU and beyond.
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Francesca Gill, SIS/BA 鈥24, a junior at 91制片厂鈥檚 School of International Service, finds value in each word of her school鈥檚 name. She views public service as uniquely vocational.
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鈥淥pportunity鈥 is a word Meaghan Reilly, SIS-SPA/BA 鈥21,聽SPA/MS 鈥24, often returns to when reflecting on the impact of scholarships. A graduate student in the School of Public Affairs鈥 (SPA) Justice, Law, and Criminology program, Reilly is a recipient of the Daniel Greeley Memorial Scholarship Fund, part of 91制片厂鈥檚 new Elevate Scholarship Initiative.聽聽聽
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The Stewart/Sawyer Family Endowed Scholarship Fund is part of AU鈥檚 Elevate Scholarship Initiative.
Hearts, roses, and . . . the circular economy? At first, food sustainability might not seem to have a natural connection to Valentine鈥檚 Day. But for Hannah VanWagner, CAS 鈥23, the February holiday offered a creative chance to promote waste awareness.
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Ishita Jamar is advancing her studies and laying the groundwork for her future through聽experiences beyond the classroom. She led a commission on sexual assault prevention culminating in a report with recommendations to improve campus culture聽and cofounded聽a grassroots organization that raises awareness around racial biases and privilege in her native New Jersey.聽聽聽聽
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Kyli聽received the Gloria A. Likins Scholarship that supports her cancer research project in professor John Bracht鈥檚 laboratory.聽
While I was growing up, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. My parents were surprised by my unwavering love for the sciences, since no one in my family was strong in this area of study. Despite my lack of exposure, my passion continued to grow.
Read More
Elevate the Student Experience
Every day, we prepare changemakers to shape our changing world. AU promotes student thriving in a diverse, inclusive environment that supports innovative minds and the purposes they courageously pursue.聽
Tell Us Your Story
How have scholarships impacted your pathway to purpose? Let us know so we can share your story of impact with the AU community.
Learn About Change Can鈥檛 Wait
With a $500 million goal, Change Can鈥檛 Wait will create transformative educational opportunities for students, advance research with impact, and build stronger communities locally, nationally, and globally.