Vol. 19, No. 21

Feb. 24, 2000

$100,000 Hearst Foundation
grant supports scholarships

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has announced a $100,000 grant to establish an endowed scholarship fund for students in the ASPIRE Program in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy. Known as the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund, the new fund will provide support for minority students interested in careers as educators. ASPIRE, an acronym for Academic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Educators, was established in 1991 to promote the recruitment and retention of minority students in UD’s teacher education programs. ASPIRE was founded in response to a pressing need for African-American, Hispanic and Native American educators. It is estimated that about 30 percent of the nation’s schoolchildren but only 13 percent of teachers are not white. The ASPIRE Program has dramatically increased the number of minority students who are entering the teaching profession upon graduation from UD. Currently, more than 140 minority students are enrolled in UD teacher education programs, and the retention and graduation rate is an impressive 95 percent. “Because of the success of the University of Delaware ASPIRE Program over the past six years, many excellent students are enrolling,” Daniel Rich, dean of the college, said. “Additional scholarship support is required to enable the program to continue to attract the best and brightest.” “We are deeply grateful to the William Randolph Hearst Foundation for its generous contribution,” Rich added. “The funding will provide deserving students the means to obtain quality teacher training and, in turn, to put their talents to use where they are most needed–in America’s classrooms.” The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, of which the William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a part, were established in the mid-1940s by the famous publisher and philanthropist. The foundations are independent private philanthropies operating separately from the Hearst Corp. The charitable goals of the foundations reflect the philanthropic interests of William Randolph Hearst– education, health, human services and culture. –Neil Thomas