In celebration of the life and legacy of late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Western Governors University has launched a new scholarship for Minnesota residents who have always dreamed of completing their college degrees and advancing their careers but faced challenges along the way that prevented them from moving forward.
The fully online, nonprofit university will award up to $100,000 in scholarships to new and returning students in an effort to help support them and encourage them to fulfill their educational goals.
The “I Have a Dream” scholarships are open to students enrolling in any of Western Governors University’s 60-plus undergraduate and graduate degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education and health professions, including nursing.
Each scholarship is valued at up to $4,000 and will be credited to students’ accounts at a rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. The scholarship will be applied to the university’s already low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term.
“More than half a century ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., laid out his vision for a future where people of all races and backgrounds were afforded the same rights, opportunities and privileges,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, regional vice president of Western Governors University.
“His activism opened minds and inspired people to strive for a more equitable society, and his words and actions continue to challenge us today,” continued Dr. Besendorfer. “In that spirit, we are proud to offer this scholarship in his honor in hopes that those who have consistently faced challenges that prevented them from moving forward with their education plans can be inspired to go back to school and complete their degrees.”
Western Governors University is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education for working adults who are interested in furthering their education. The university, which is fully accredited and nationally recognized, offers an industry-leading, competency-based structure that allows students to leverage previous education, training and work experience—instead of time spent in the classroom—to graduate faster.
Students complete their programs by studying, completing coursework and taking tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrated they’ve mastered the subject matter.
The non-traditional model allows students to take as many courses as possible each term without any added fees and is perfect for students who need a flexible, affordable option in higher education. While the university’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving them both time and money.
Applications for Western Governors University’s “I Have a Dream” scholarships will be accepted online at wgu.edu/dream through June 30, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded based on the students’ academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, as well as other considerations.
For more information about Western Governors University and the “I Have a Dream” scholarship, visit wgu.edu/dream or call 866-225-5948.
Information and photo provided by Western Governors University.
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