Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Roanoke College’s President’s 25 scholarship initiative has topped $2 million in its first year, the college announced last week.
The milestone includes more than $1 million in cash and pledges from 41 donors, with an anonymous supporter pledging to match that amount. The initiative, launched in 2024 under President Frank Shushok Jr., is designed to increase endowed student financial aid.
“Nothing is more important to the future of Roanoke College than helping students afford a transformative education,” Shushok said in a statement. “We’re so excited to invite our community to jump in and be among the next 40 P25 members who invest in the future of Roanoke College and our students.”
To join the program, known as P25, individuals commit to giving $5,000 annually for five years, for a total of $25,000.
Helen Twohy Whittemore, a 1980 graduate, said she was proud to be part of the program’s founding class. “I can’t think of a better investment than helping students get an education,” she said. “It’s truly a game changer for them and for the communities that they’ll go on to serve.”
College officials said the initiative also strengthens Roanoke’s finances. Of the more than $36 million in institutional aid awarded to students each year, only about $3.6 million is funded through endowment proceeds, leaving the rest to be covered as unfunded discounts.
“Having had the opportunity to attend Roanoke as a student was life-changing,” said Nate Stewart, the college’s vice president for advancement. “Together, we can make life-changing experiences possible for the next generation of Roanoke students.”
The P25 effort aligns with Imagine Roanoke, the college’s new strategic plan, which emphasizes endowment growth as critical to long-term success.
