And as we welcome our new board members, we'd also like to extend our sincere gratitude to our departing leaders, Dana O'Neill of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and former NSPA Board President, Oscar Sweeten-Lopez of The Contingent. Dana and Oscar have dedicated years of their time and expertise to help strengthen NSPA and the scholarship community. Join us in thanking them for their contributions.

Meet the New Board Members

Jeanna Adams
Chief Scholarship Officer
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

Jeanna Adams serves as the Chief Scholarship Officer and Chief of Staff for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. As the Chief Scholarship Officer, Jeanna is responsible for the development and implementation of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s programs and mission objectives and serves as the liaison for scholarship program strategy, planning, and execution across the Foundation. During her time at the Scholarship Foundation, Jeanna has overseen the awarding of 28,000+ scholarship awards valued at $105 million. Jeanna serves as a mentor to other NSPA members who are new to the scholarship industry, mentors students enrolled in the Nevada Promise Scholarship Program, and serves on several scholarship application review committees.

A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Jeanna is passionate about supporting military families and honoring their service and sacrifices by providing educational opportunities to their children. Jeanna and her husband, Dustin, reside in Reno, Nevada with their cat Oliver.

Lauren "Lo" Klink
Associate Director for Special Awards & Student Engagement
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Lo Klink works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in both the Office of Student Financial Aid and the School of Education. Her area of expertise is within the realm of scholarships, student engagement, student employment, and high impact practices. A consistent thread in her work and home life is creating access to underrepresented communities. Lo is a former student-athlete and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She recently completed a Master’s in Education from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse with an emphasis on Student Affairs Administration and is now a student in their doctoral program. Her scholarship and publications have focused on implicit bias in access to financing higher education.

Kimberly Smith-Bristow
Scholarship Director
Forman Acton Foundation

Kimberly Smith was appointed the Foundation’s Scholarship Director in July 2021, having joined the organization in 2018 as its Finance/Administrative Manager. In her new role, she is responsible for managing all aspects of the Foundation’s cornerstone scholarship program, including the yearly application, interview and selection processes. She is also tasked with mentoring Forman Scholars. A native of New Jersey, Kimberly holds an undergraduate degree in communications with a concentration in psychology from Kean University, in addition to an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

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The Building Effective Scholarship Programs Virtual Summit will take place on February 14 & 15, 2023. Summit sessions include:

• Best Application Practices to Expand College Access
• Scholarship Program Marketing
• Building Successful Selection Committees
• Awarding 101: Who to Award, How to Pay Them, and How to Mitigate Displacement?
• Evaluation and Outcome Measurement
• Legal Fundamentals for Scholarship Providers
• Financial Aid 101

Find Out More and Register >>

Save the date for the Scholarship Administration Essentials Summit scheduled for February 14-15, 2023. This Virtual Summit event is perfect for scholarship professionals new to the industry or those who want to ground their work in tried-and-true practices in the field. Presenters will lead sessions on day-to-day program administration, program development and evaluation, collaboration with key stakeholder groups, and accountability. Participants will hear from seasoned practitioners on efficient, effective strategies and tactics and how to implement them in their own programs to better support student success.

2022 Award Winners

Scholarship Provider of the Year
Recognizes scholarship providers that leverage their unique resources to strengthen college access and success, advance industry or professional performance, kick-start innovation, and improve conditions in their community and beyond.

• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (Large Provider)
• TGR Foundation - Earl Woods Scholar Program (Small Provider)

The Keystone Award
Recognizes a partner company or consultant engaged in the sale of products or services to members of NSPA who has made especially outstanding contributions to the advancement of the scholarship community.

• International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc.

The Ann Radcliffe Award
Named in honor of the first financial aid scholarship benefactor, this award recognizes the exceptional contributions made by an individual to the scholarship industry.

• Robert C. Ballard, President & CEO, Scholarship America (Retired)

The NSPA Fellows Award
Recognizes a career professional who has contributed to the expansion of knowledge around scholarship administration.

• Michele Waxman Johnson, CEO, Bold Thought Partners

About NSPA
The NSPA’s mission is to advance the collective impact of scholarship providers and the scholarships they award. Our membership represents over 2,000 individuals from over 600 organizations across North America and beyond.

This Virtual Summit event is perfect for scholarship professionals new to the industry or those who want to ground their work in tried-and-true practices in the field. Presenters will lead sessions on day-to-day program administration, program development and evaluation, collaboration with key stakeholder groups, and accountability. Participants will hear from seasoned practitioners on efficient, effective strategies and tactics and how to implement them in their own programs to better support student success.

Summit sessions include:

• Best Application Practices to Expand College Access
• Scholarship Program Marketing
• Building Successful Selection Committees
• Awarding 101: Who to Award, How to Pay Them, and How to Mitigate Displacement?
• Evaluation and Outcome Measurement
• Legal Fundamentals for Scholarship Providers
• Financial Aid 101
  

Find Out More >>

Join the campaign today and help us promote the importance of scholarships! Show your support of higher education and the scholarship industry by utilizing our NSM Media Kit, which includes graphics, banners, social media hashtags, key messaging ideas, and more!

Find Out How >>

NSPA Awards of Excellence acknowledge and celebrate organizations and individuals contributing to student success and advancements in the scholarship industry.

Learn more about our awards and winners >>

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Select Resources from Resilience 2022

• Thriving in College: Essentials for Campus Living
• Opportunities Guide and Workbook
• Developing Talent in Young People
• Supporting Students in Trying Times
• Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment
• Reasons to Be Cheerful

Read the Blog Post >>

Generous donors provide the resources that many scholarship providers use to offer access and opportunity to students in need. Whether your organization is stewarding current gifts and donors, or actively fundraising for new or ongoing scholarship programs, it’s important to ensure that your work with your benefactors is as effective as possible.

Read the Blog Post >>

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Listen to the Podcast >>

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• Could the Solution to the Great Resignation Be as Simple as Gratitude? A New Study Suggests Yes
• The Art of Listening
• 5 Ways Managers Can Help Employees Avoid Burnout
  What Those in the Helping Professions Want You to Know About Self-Care
• Feeling Demotivated? Consider How Your Job Helps Others.

Want even more on intentionally caring for self and others? The NSPA RESILIENCE 2022 sessions presentations will cover:

• Overcoming the Cynicism Trap: Building Trust and Empathy in a Fractured World
• Cultivating Grit in Our Students and Ourselves
• Discovering Wellness: The Importance of You and Me
• Making Work More Human-Friendly
• Finding Work-Life Balance in a Hybrid Work Environment

Not yet registered for NSPA RESILIENCE 2022? There's still time to sign up! Register here today, and we'll see you soon in Chicago!

• What Is Hispanic Heritage Month?
• Who's Latino? Amid Growing Numbers the Definition Is Expanding
• Helping Latinx Students and Their Families Navigate the Complexities of the College-Going Process
• New Report Highlights How Institutions Are Supporting Post-completion Success for Latino Students
• The Importance of Integrating the Latino Community into Public Policy

The below articles highlight some of the most important topics in saving for college:

• Saving For College: Better Now Than Never
• Tuition Inflation Isn't as Bad as You Think
• Tools To Empower Students Today for the Future of College Success
• What to Do if Market Drops Took a Bite Out of Your College Savings
• College Costs are Going Up - But These Tips and Tricks Could Save You a Lot of Money

Learn even more in these On-Demand Learning programs on innovative ways to help families plan and save:

• Exploring How Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs) Complement & Enhance Traditional Scholarships
• 529 Plans for Scholarship Funds: From Why to How in 60 Minutes

This week we share the latest on what's happening in the scholarship industry. The articles below cover emerging trends, such as corporate marketers using scholarships as branding opportunities, as well as showcase new scholarship awards and research. You'll read about scholarship programs aimed at increasing the number of mental health practitioners, aiding single parents and those going to school later in life, and making college more affordable for Native students.

• Scholarships Help Brands Reach Gen Z
• Minnesota Takes a Holistic Statewide Approach to Aid Student Parents
• California Plans to Use Scholarship Program to Double School Counselors Amid Shortage
• Scholarships for Midlifers
• National Native Scholarships Providers Releases Study on College Affordability for Native Students

Want the full immersion into the latest in scholarships? Register for NSPA RESILIENCE 2022 today! The Conference will once again be first-class, with more than 90 educational sessions that allow you to design your own learning experience. We hope to see you in Chicago in October!

• 8 Satisfying Career Goals
• 3 Ways to Create a Company Culture that Truly Supports Work-Life Balance
• Leadership’s Magic Word
• How You Write Controls How You Speak
• 10 Leadership Essentials for 2022

On August 24, the Biden-Harris Administration announced much-anticipated support to student loan borrowers. The announcement focused on three key areas targeted at assisting borrowers to pay off loans more quickly and affordably: targeted student loan debt forgiveness and updates to the existing programs including income-driven repayment plan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

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• The Value of a College Education
• 22 Tips for First-Year College Students
• Major Returns for Adult Learners Going Back to College
• First in the Family Make their Mark in College
• Admitting First-Generation and Low-Income Students is Not Enough
  

Many, if not all, students struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic with a myriad of complex, interconnected issues. Education was no exception: Many students lacked access to devices or internet connectivity, faced increased financial or childcare responsibilities at home, and struggled with mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, all of which impacted their ability to engage meaningfully with their professors and curriculum. However, for historically marginalized populations, a widening achievement gap has been added to this burdensome list.

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• Delaware Moves Forward with ‘Ban the Box’ Legislation for College Admissions
  
• A Path Forward Post–Gang Life
• Mississippi Valley State University Becomes First HBCU to Offer Prison College Courses in Mississippi
• University of Arizona Offers Free Tuition to Indigenous Students
• How Promise Programs Offer a Path to College Affordability and Aim to Reshape Communities