Spring Break
Campaign for OSU steps in for Oregon Opportunity Grant
Bridge to Success covered OOG's shortfall for fall and winter term; Campaign for OSU will pick up slack in spring
Lauren Sigel
Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: News
In its first year, OSU's Bridge to Success program lived up to its name by providing much-needed funding to students who were on track to receive reduced Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) scholarships for this school year.
However, although Bridge to Success was able to cover the OOG shortfall for fall and winter term, they were not able to come up with the necessary funds for spring term.
Fortunately, the Campaign for OSU was able to cover the $490,000 shortfall.
The OOG is a part of the Bridge to Success program, which covers tuition and fees for all qualified Oregonian undergraduate students. The program also draws from scholarship funds raised as part of the Campaign for OSU.
According to the Campaign for OSU's website, 3,370 students had anticipated full awards for spring term, and each would have seen an $80 shortfall.
"More than 20 percent of our undergraduate students are affected by the OOG shortfall," said Kate Peterson, OSU assistant provost for enrollment management. "However, we were able to use the funds set aside for Bridge for Success to help students for fall and winter term."
Peterson created Bridge to Success along with Director of Financial Aid Emilio Vejil.
According to the Bridge to Success website, students don't need to apply. Any financial aid applicant who meets Pell Grant and OOG eligibility and can show necessary progress towards a degree will be automatically considered.
The program has used up their funding for this year and are no longer accepting students for awards for the rest of this academic year, Peterson said.
"We knew that we needed to help students who were already here at OSU. In doing so, we can't award aid for future OSU students for the rest of this 2008-2009 school year."
Sydney Ziehl, a junior majoring in general science and pre-education with a minor in chemistry, said that the OOG accounts for about five percent of her financial aid for this year.
"I got a grant for about $500 this year, and this is the first year I haven't received any funding from the OOG," Ziehl said. "If their funds completely ran dry, I would just have to get more money in loans and be more in debt when I graduate.
However, although Bridge to Success was able to cover the OOG shortfall for fall and winter term, they were not able to come up with the necessary funds for spring term.
Fortunately, the Campaign for OSU was able to cover the $490,000 shortfall.
The OOG is a part of the Bridge to Success program, which covers tuition and fees for all qualified Oregonian undergraduate students. The program also draws from scholarship funds raised as part of the Campaign for OSU.
According to the Campaign for OSU's website, 3,370 students had anticipated full awards for spring term, and each would have seen an $80 shortfall.
"More than 20 percent of our undergraduate students are affected by the OOG shortfall," said Kate Peterson, OSU assistant provost for enrollment management. "However, we were able to use the funds set aside for Bridge for Success to help students for fall and winter term."
Peterson created Bridge to Success along with Director of Financial Aid Emilio Vejil.
According to the Bridge to Success website, students don't need to apply. Any financial aid applicant who meets Pell Grant and OOG eligibility and can show necessary progress towards a degree will be automatically considered.
The program has used up their funding for this year and are no longer accepting students for awards for the rest of this academic year, Peterson said.
"We knew that we needed to help students who were already here at OSU. In doing so, we can't award aid for future OSU students for the rest of this 2008-2009 school year."
Sydney Ziehl, a junior majoring in general science and pre-education with a minor in chemistry, said that the OOG accounts for about five percent of her financial aid for this year.
"I got a grant for about $500 this year, and this is the first year I haven't received any funding from the OOG," Ziehl said. "If their funds completely ran dry, I would just have to get more money in loans and be more in debt when I graduate.
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