Two-Year Pilot Provides Comprehensive Support for College, Living and Educational Expenses
The Chestnut Family Foundation (CFF), together with the Atlanta Music Project (AMP), announces the launch of The Chestnut Family College Scholarship Fund, an innovative scholarship program designed to provide financial support to AMP seniors and alumni. The CFF has committed to funding the two-year pilot, which will launch in Fall 2021.
According to Learn4Life’s data, only 29% of college enrollees in Georgia complete their degrees within five years. Students can often be derailed by emergencies and unexpected financial hurdles that can prevent them from completing their education. The Fund will address these challenges and build upon AMP’s goal of providing quality, accessible and affordable education to all who seek it.
“A significant challenge many of our alumni face in planning for their future is the financial barrier to start and complete college,” says Dantes Rameau, AMP’s Chief Executive Officer. “Now, thanks to the tremendous generosity of the Chestnut Family Foundation, we are now able to expand our mission to support our students before and during their pursuit of higher education.”
“Having followed the remarkable progress of AMP’s dedicated and talented students, we are inspired to deepen our commitment to AMP and their mission to support and help their students by removing the financial barriers that so often prevent students from persisting to degree completion,” said Teresa Chestnut, Trustee of the Chestnut Family Foundation. “We value education and want to do our part to ensure that the young people AMP serve in this community achieve their post-secondary goals.”
The Fund will provide support in preparing for, paying for and persisting through college. It will aid with educational costs such as tuition, books, housing, music instruments and emergency living expenses. In addition, the Fund will support the hiring of a full-time college-prep counselor to assist AMP students with the college application and completion process.
Graduates of AMP and current AMP high school seniors meeting specific requirements and who have been accepted into a four-year degree institution, are eligible for support from the Fund. A panel consisting of AMP faculty, parents, board members and alumni will review applications to the Fund and recommend scholarship awards.