Endowed Scholarship

Creating a Lasting Legacy Through Catholic Education

An endowed scholarship is one of the most meaningful ways to support the mission of Aquinas College for generations to come.

Rooted in the charism of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, Aquinas College serves the Church by forming teachers, religious sisters, seminarians, catechists, and lay faithful in the pursuit of Truth. Through an endowed scholarship, you can help ensure that future students continue to receive the intellectual, spiritual, and professional formation that prepares them to serve Christ and His Church.

Endowed scholarships provide permanent support for students while creating a lasting tribute to a loved one, family, organization, or benefactor. They are an enduring expression of faith in the mission of Aquinas College and the future of Catholic education.Aquinas College is a Catholic institution of higher education owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation. As a private institution that does not accept federal funding, Aquinas College depends upon independent sources of funding to provide financial assistance to its students.

What is an endowed scholarship?

An endowed scholarship is a permanent fund established for the benefit of Aquinas students. The principal of the fund remains invested, while annual scholarship awards are funded through a portion of the investment earnings. Because the principal remains intact, an endowed scholarship can provide support to students for generations.

Why establish an endowed scholarship?

An endowed scholarship allows you to:

• Support the mission of Aquinas College in a lasting way.
• Increase access to Catholic higher education.
• Honor or memorialize a loved one.
• Help form future teachers, religious sisters, seminarians, catechists, and lay leaders.
• Create a legacy that will benefit students for years to come.

How much does it cost to establish an endowed scholarship?

The minimum funding level required to establish an endowed scholarship is $25,000.

The fund may be established through:

• Cash gifts
• Appreciated securities
• Multi-year pledges
• Planned gifts or estate gifts
• Other charitable giving vehicles

Scholarship awards begin once the endowment reaches the minimum funding level.

How are scholarship recipients selected?

Scholarships are awarded in accordance with the donor’s wishes and the College’s financial aid policies.

Scholarships may be:

• Need-based
• Merit-based
• Targeted to specific student populations
• Unrestricted

Aquinas works closely with each donor to create criteria that reflect the donor’s goals while remaining flexible enough to benefit students over time.

How much support does an endowed scholarship provide?

Aquinas College currently follows a 4% annual spending policy.

For example:

As the endowment grows, so does its long-term impact on future students.

Begin the Conversation

If you are interested in creating an endowed scholarship, we would be honored to discuss opportunities with you.

Sr. Cecilia Anne Wanner, O.P.
President, Aquinas College
President@aquinascollege.edu
(615) 297-7545 ext. 423