More than $3.3 million awarded over the past two years
(SNR) – The Diocese of Lincoln formally announced the formation of The Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund in 2019 to support low-income students and large families in need of financial assistance attend diocesan Catholic schools.
Over the past two years the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $3.3 million in scholarships.
The Good Shepherd Scholarship application process for the 2021-2022 school year opened Jan.1, with a deadline of March 31 this year. This scholarship benefits students who attend Catholic schools in the Lincoln Diocese, by offering up to 75% of tuition or up to a maximum of $1,600 for grade school and $1,900 for high school students. The Good Shepherd Scholarship also covers the Diocesan Technology Fee of $330 per student. The scholarship is available for families that are within 225% of the Federal Poverty Level.
In addition, the Diocese of Lincoln offers a Family Tuition Cap Scholarship for families with more than three students in Catholic Schools. This scholarship is available for any family, regardless of income. After paying for the oldest three students, families can apply to receive a free tuition scholarship for all additional children in grades K-12, even if students are in multiple diocesan schools. This scholarship is for tuition only and does not include the Diocesan Technology Fee.
“There is significant value being delivered by the Good Shepherd Scholarship. It helps to ensure that families in need will be able to get additional financial assistance to cover tuition costs and provides a sustainable source of income for our Catholic Schools,” said Eva Fujan, who directs the administration of the scholarship.
The diocese estimates that 1,500 to 2,000 students will receive Good Shepherd Scholarships next year, amounting to $2.2 million to $2.5 million in total scholarships. The funds are in addition to the generous assistance of parishes that support Catholic Schools in the Diocese.
Fundraising efforts, through the Diocesan Stewardship and Development office, are seeking to maintain and increase the fund.
“This scholarship is a win-win for our families and schools. The more we increase support, the more families we can help, all while providing key financial resources to our schools.” said Nathan Seger who raises funds for the scholarship.
“The Good Shepherd Scholarship is essential for ensuring that our schools will be vibrant and sustainable long into the future, while ensuring that any family can afford Catholic education for their children,” said Dr. Matthew Hecker, chief administrative officer for Diocesan Catholic Schools. “The importance of this mission and the benefits to our children, families and parishes is paramount for the future of the Catholic Church.”
The Lincoln Diocese is nationally recognized for the benefits of its Catholic education system and the effect it has had on students, families, parishes and communities. Many benefits have come from the support for affordable Catholic education, including an abundance of priests, seminarians and religious. Approximately 75% of Lincoln Diocese seminarians graduated from Catholic Schools.
The online Good Shepherd Scholarship application is open until March 31, 2021 for the 2021-2022 academic year. Additional information about the Good Shepherd Scholarship Fund and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found at www.goodshepherdscholarship.com.
