ECMC Foundation Increases Its Pledge to $10.8 Million in Higher Education Scholarships

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ECMC Foundation announced today that it will continue funding the ECMC Scholars Program in Virginia, Oregon and Connecticut. Program participants from selected high schools are eligible to win up to $6,000 per student in postsecondary grants through the high school graduating class of 2014. Since the program was launched, more than 1,800 students have benefitted from the mentoring and scholarships this program provides.  

The ECMC Scholars Program was created to encourage low-income students to pursue postsecondary education. Public high schools were chosen to participate in the program according to need-based criteria. Counselors and teachers identify students with the potential to succeed in college but who may need extra motivation to work up to this ability. The majority of ECMC Scholars are the first in their families to attend college. 

ECMC Foundation partnered with the Virginia Department of Education in 2003 to create the Virginia ECMC Scholars Program. Since then, seven high school classes of ECMC Scholars have graduated from 10 participating high schools.

In 2006, ECMC Foundation expanded the program to Oregon in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education. Four classes of Oregon ECMC Scholars have since graduated from eight participating high schools.

In 2010, ECMC Foundation further expanded the program to Connecticut in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Education. The first cohort of ECMC Scholars from eight Connecticut high schools will graduate in 2012.

For more information about the ECMC Scholars Program, visit www.ecmcfoundation.org.

About ECMC Foundation
ECMC Foundation helps people of all ages further their education goals with a concentration on low-income individuals as well as those who may be the first member of their family to attend college. Its innovative outreach programs focus on college access, retention and success. ECMC Foundation is funded by ECMC Group.

SOURCE ECMC Foundation