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July 16, 2008
RIPON, Wis. – Ripon College has been selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to receive the Wal-Mart College Success Award – a $100,000 grant to help build on Ripon’s demonstrated successes in enrolling, retaining, and graduating first-generation college students. Ripon was one of only 20 colleges selected through a highly competitive application process to receive the award, which is intended to help institutions that are already deeply committed to the education of first-generation students.
“We are honored that the CIC and Wal-Mart have selected Ripon as one of the 20 private institutions of higher education in the country to receive this grant,” said Dan Krhin, director of Student Support Services at Ripon. “It is impressive that Wal-Mart has dedicated funding for this important national educational initiative, which will bolster our ongoing efforts in retention and graduation, and provide exciting additional support for our students in areas linking liberal arts and career opportunities.”
Krhin was the principal writer for the grant. Editing assistance and information support was provided by Jessica Spanbauer, associate director for Student Support Services and McNair Scholars; Mary Snyder, assistant director for Student Support Services and McNair Scholars; and Steve Schuetz and Margaret Kastein from Admissions.
“CIC was delighted that 217 institutions – more than a third of its membership – applied for the grants. More importantly, we were amazed at the outstanding quality of their programs – truly a testament to the efforts of private colleges to ensure the success of first-generation students,” said CIC President Richard Ekman in announcing the awards. “These awards will help strengthen those programs and also provide recognition that their work is important,” he added.
“Wal-Mart is proud to support programs that enable first generation students to succeed in college,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “Wal-Mart’s partnership with CIC identifies institutions committed to the success of first-generation students and will help identify and share effective programs.”
The 19 additional winners are: Adrian College (MI), Bay Path College (MA), Bellarmine University (KY), California Lutheran University, Carroll University (WI), College of Idaho, College of Mount Saint Vincent (NY), College of Saint Benedict (MN), College of St. Scholastica (MN), Florida Memorial University, Illinois College, Juniata College (PA), Kalamazoo College (MI), Lesley University (MA), Manchester College (IN), North Central College (IL), St. Edward’s University (TX), Wartburg College (IA), and Wiley College (TX).
Nationwide, at all colleges and universities, only 24 percent of first-generation students succeed in earning a bachelor’s degree compared with 68 percent of students whose parents received a bachelor’s degree. The colleges selected for the Wal-Mart College Success Awards have developed programs that result in higher percentages of graduates among their first-generation college students than the national average, and many graduate first-generation students at the same rate as all other students.
The Wal-Mart College Success Awards program is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges and made possible by a generous grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.
For more information about the Wal-Mart College Success Awards, visit the CIC website at www.cic.edu/projects_services/walmart_college_success.asp.
About Ripon College
Ripon College, founded in 1851, prepares students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Ripon’s liberal arts curriculum and residential campus create an intimate learning community in which students experience a richly personalized education. Ripon has consistently been recognized as a “best value” and “Best 366 College” by The Princeton Review, a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s, a “Best Liberal-Arts College” by Washington Monthly, and is listed among the 160 best schools in the nation by Colleges of Distinction. For more information about Ripon College, visit www.ripon.edu.
About The Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 580 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.cic.edu/.
About the Wal-Mart Foundation
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
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