Greater Fall River Development Corporation Scholarship will support Fall River area students while at UMass Dartmouth
UMass Dartmouth recently received a $1M gift from the Greater Fall River Development Corporation to develop the Greater Fall River Development Corporation (GFRDC) Scholarship program. In addition to the GFRDC gift, the UMass Foundation provided $500,000 in matching funds. The $1.5M will financially support students from the Greater Fall River area as they pursue their academic and professional ambitions at UMass Dartmouth.
“The UMass Foundation is pleased to join with the Greater Fall River Development Corporation in establishing this new scholarship program,” said Robert Manning, Chair of the UMass Foundation. “This initiative is a powerful statement from the community and the university that education is essential to an individual’s ability to achieve their potential and make a valuable contribution to society.”
The UMass Foundation will administer the scholarship fund in support of UMass Dartmouth.
“The GFRDC’s generous contribution, amplified by the Foundation match, sends a strong message about higher education being critical to the futures of young people, but also to the prosperity of the community,” said Steve Karam, Chair of the UMass Board of Trustees.
“In making this transformational investment, the Greater Fall River Development Corporation is making the dream of a college education possible for more of the region’s deserving students,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “Together with the UMass Foundation match, this is a powerul and tangible statement about the life-changing education that UMass Dartmouth offers.”
Students who have demonstrated a financial need from Fall River, Acushnet, Berkley, Dighton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport are eligible. Funding will be available for four years as long as a 3.0 GPA is maintained.
“I’m very pleased to see that the Greater Fall River Development Corporation and the UMass Foundation continue to reinforce and strengthen their support for UMass Dartmouth by making $1.5M available in scholarships for students demonstrating financial need. As an alumnus, I understand the critical role that UMass-Dartmouth plays in providing a high-quality education for residents in the Greater Fall River area, and I commend the Greater Fall River Development Corporation and the UMass Foundation for their commitment to investing in the future of education in the South Coast,” said Senator Michael Rodrigues.
“Every student deserves the ability to pursue a higher education. The scholarships from the Greater Fall River Development Corporation and UMass Foundation support UMass Dartmouth students. This goes a long way to support students to reach their academic goals,” said Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan.
Over 600 scholarships were given to UMass Dartmouth students in the past academic year to assist with textbooks, tuition, living costs, research projects, and study-abroad opportunities. These donations alleviate many financial hardships for students, allowing them to stay focused on academics.
“With roughly 1,000 of our students coming from the gateway city of Fall River and surrounding towns, this new scholarship is poised to make a tremendous impact at UMass Dartmouth,” said Chancellor Mark Fuller. “I am grateful to the Greater Fall River Development Corporation and the UMass Foundation for providing UMass Dartmouth students with opportunities to achieve academic and professional success, which will help propel the well-being of our region.”