Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Marine Policy Sub-concentration Cultivates Civic Leaders Transforming Science Into Solutions
GLOUCESTER POINT, Virginia, Feb. 11 -- William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science issued the following news:
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Marine policy sub-concentration cultivates civic leaders transforming science into solutions
By Patrick McGettigan
In a classroom overlooking the York River at William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS, a cohort of master's and doctoral students is engaged in a discussion that might surprise some: the Virginia legislative process.
As she maps out how laws are made, Assistant Professor Molly Mitchell pauses to let students absorb the material
... Show Full Article
GLOUCESTER POINT, Virginia, Feb. 11 -- William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science issued the following news:
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Marine policy sub-concentration cultivates civic leaders transforming science into solutions
By Patrick McGettigan
In a classroom overlooking the York River at William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS, a cohort of master's and doctoral students is engaged in a discussion that might surprise some: the Virginia legislative process.
As she maps out how laws are made, Assistant Professor Molly Mitchell pauses to let students absorb the materialbefore pointing to the sequence of events and asking, "So where do you see science fitting into all of this?"
The course is part of the Batten School & VIMS' Sub-Concentration in Marine Policy. Offered in collaboration with William & Mary's College of Arts & Sciences Public Policy Program and the William & Mary Law School, it is designed to prepare students to engage with professionals across sectors and fields on matters of coastal and marine policy. The offering provides an alternative to the Combined Degree in Marine Science and Public Policy program, allowing students a holistic educational experience within a typical graduate program time frame.
Since its founding in 1940, the Batten School & VIMS have advised the commonwealth on marine and coastal issues, drawing on research conducted by faculty, scientific staff and graduate students to serve communities, industries and policymakers in Virginia and beyond. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the Batten School & VIMS consulted on projects valued at more than $1 billion.
Embedded in the Batten School & VIMS' three-part mission of research, education and advisory service, the art of applied science is especially evident in the classroom, where graduate students engaging in marine policy are transformed into civic leaders.
For Associate Professor Andrew Scheld, who helped formalize the sub-concentration in 2015, the program represents core values shared by faculty, staff and students.
"Our institution is rooted in translating science into policy," explains Scheld. "There's always been a strong pipeline from campus to places like Richmond and D.C., where state and federal decisions are being made. Our sub-concentration is a way to provide our students with the structure and the credentialing to further that legacy."
Over the past 10 years, more than two dozen graduates have earned this specialization alongside their master's or doctorate degrees, a testament to their passion and drive and an example of how the Batten School & VIMS approach scientific training. While some of these graduates have gone on to lead in the field of coastal & marine sciences, others have taken on roles that more directly apply their marine policy specializations, working as environmental lawyers, climate policy experts, and natural resource managers across the nation.
Siddhartha Mitra, associate dean for academic affairs, explained, "The marine policy sub-concentration captures the essence of our approach to education. We combine innovative research with a focus on how science can inform solutions to pressing global challenges. Coupled with the training they receive here, our talented students become conversant across various sectors and are able to build coalitions and shape policy as future leaders upon graduation."
Through required coursework, students develop an understanding of policy structures, working in classroom settings to map out traditional legislative processes and gaining field experience through visits to nonprofits as well as state and federal agencies. Mitchell finds that students gain a more complete appreciation for policy as an art form.
"In class we talk about where science fits into policy decisions," reflected Mitchell. "It's often diffusive, intangible - and so it's important for our students in this program to engage with people across sectors and levels of government, to see and hear them modeling that process for them."
Providing unique personal growth and professional development opportunities
For graduate students like Mara Walters, the sub-concentration was influential in choosing to attend the Batten School & VIMS.
"I knew I wanted to study microplastics, but it was important to me that I complement my scientific training with the personal and professional development that would allow me to translate my research into meaningful actions and answers for people's concerns," said Walters, who added, "I think it's rare that an institution allows for students pursuing their master's or Ph.D. to focus time and energy away from their primary research subject - but faculty here get it."
Participation in the marine policy sub-concentration has proven to inspire students to further expand upon their interdisciplinary educational and professional experiences. Since the academic program was formalized, 1 in 3 participants have gone on to become Knauss Fellows, a NOAA Sea Grant program where participants earn one-year paid fellowships working on resource management and national policy within the federal legislative or executive branch.
James Delbene is one such graduate.
"It's rare to be in a formal science program and also taking a law class alongside law school students or taking a policy course alongside public policy graduates. I don't take it for granted that in a given week I was shifting between scientific research and meeting with policymakers at the state capital, making connections to how the research and the policy work informed one another along the way," shared Delbene, who is currently completing a doctorate focused on civic engagement in marine policy implementation.
"The sub-concentration facilitates opportunities for students to network, to see where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. It's allowed me to approach my work in such a way that I ensure buy-in from the people that I ultimately am trying to serve through my research, and that has been invaluable."
Collaboration across William & Mary transforms scientists into civic leaders
As the Alma Mater of the Nation, William & Mary has a long tradition of preparing leaders to address the most pressing issues facing communities today. Through opportunities like the marine policy sub-concentration, the Batten School & VIMS ensures such leaders are prepared to navigate the constantly changing environmental and political landscapes ahead of them.
"We are always exploring how this program can evolve," explained Scheld. "As legal interpretations change, so do our lesson plans. Engagement from nonprofit, state and federal partners is dynamic and influenced by variables students need to become comfortable recognizing and navigating -- that experience is an important element of the learning process and of training to become a professional in this field."
While partnerships in both the commonwealth and the nation's capital personalize each cohort's experience, leadership at the Batten School & VIMS continues to develop cutting-edge academic programming and strengthen cross-institutional coalitions in support of current and future students.
Back on William & Mary's main campus, Thomas Ruppert, assistant provost for coastal resilience & director of the Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative, finds that working with Batten & VIMS faculty and students is representative of a larger effort to foster more resilient communities and coastlines.
"In the not too distant past, people were viewed, or expected to be, substantive experts in a particular field," reflected Ruppert. "As specializations and scope of knowledge continue to grow, it's less feasible for lawyers alone to draft effective policies to achieve complex resiliency goals for communities. This generation of professionals coming out of the Batten School & VIMS, who have the technical expertise as well as the added fluency in policy and law, are the policy experts and leaders our nation will rely on as we address the challenges and meet the opportunities ahead of us."
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Original text here: https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/2026/batten-vims-marine-policy.php
Virginia Tech: Justin Jaworski Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 11 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Justin Jaworski elected fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
By Jama Green
In recognition of his research and international leadership in the area of coupled fluid-structure systems with applications to the aerospace, biology, and energy sectors, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) recently elevated Justin Jaworski to fellow. The society has approximately 3,700 fellows out of 25,000 total members in 113 countries.
Jaworski is an internationally recognized expert in unsteady fluid-structure interactions,
... Show Full Article
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Feb. 11 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Justin Jaworski elected fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
By Jama Green
In recognition of his research and international leadership in the area of coupled fluid-structure systems with applications to the aerospace, biology, and energy sectors, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) recently elevated Justin Jaworski to fellow. The society has approximately 3,700 fellows out of 25,000 total members in 113 countries.
Jaworski is an internationally recognized expert in unsteady fluid-structure interactions,avian aeroacoustics, and biomimicry design for flow-noise reduction. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 2023, his current research focuses on vortex dynamics, aeroelasticity, and noise generation in low-speed flows.
Jaworski is a past recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER and Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program awards. In addition, he is the author of no fewer than 80 journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, and serves as chair of two successive NATO international task groups focused on three-dimensional gust-airfoil interactions.
He holds bachelor of science, master's, and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Duke University. He is also a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Five additional aerospace and ocean engineering faculty members are RAeS Fellows: Ella M. Atkins, William Devenport, Todd Lowe, Rakesh Kapania and Joseph Schetz.
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/02/justin-jaworski-fellow-royal-aeronautical-society.html
University of Missouri: 3D-printed Brain Models Could Revolutionize Medical Research and Training
COLUMBIA, Missouri, Feb. 11 (TNSjou) - The University of Missouri issued the following news release:
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3D-printed brain models could revolutionize medical research and training
University of Missouri researchers are developing a realistic, life-sized synthetic model of the human brain.
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University of Missouri researchers are developing new ways to better simulate the complex nature of human brain tissue.
For years, scientists have worked to uncover how the brain responds to mechanical forces and electromagnetic waves. Computer models offer useful simulations, but they don't fully capture
... Show Full Article
COLUMBIA, Missouri, Feb. 11 (TNSjou) - The University of Missouri issued the following news release:
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3D-printed brain models could revolutionize medical research and training
University of Missouri researchers are developing a realistic, life-sized synthetic model of the human brain.
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University of Missouri researchers are developing new ways to better simulate the complex nature of human brain tissue.
For years, scientists have worked to uncover how the brain responds to mechanical forces and electromagnetic waves. Computer models offer useful simulations, but they don't fully capturewhat goes on inside a living brain. Now, the team from Mizzou's College of Engineering is working to close that gap by developing 3D-printed models of an artificial human brain.
Novel to their approach, these 3D-models not only look and feel like real tissue but also behave like it, opening the door to safer training, more precise research and advances in personalized medicine. Researchers have already printed a small-scale model, about 15% of the brain's actual size, and are working toward creating a full-sized version within the next year.
Traditional methods for creating these soft tissue models often result in a reproduction that's uniform in structure -- making it challenging to replicate the variation in stiffness and texture of real human organs. To overcome this challenge, Mizzou's scientists are using a technique called embedded 3D printing.
Unlike conventional 3D printing, which builds each layer in open air, this approach relies on a jelly-like support bath to hold the soft material in place while it's being printed. This process provides the needed stability to replicate the brain's different stiffnesses, as well as print its soft folds and grooves.
Central to the process is a custom liquid ink -- a modified version of a common polymer that researchers can fine-tune to mimic the mechanical, thermal and dielectric behavior of brain tissue, said Christopher O'Bryan, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and co-author of the study.
By carefully adjusting the chemistry, researchers can print regions of the brain that behave like gray or white matter, producing models that are realistic to the touch and scientifically accurate.
"Human tissues are incredibly heterogeneous, made of different materials with different properties," O'Bryan said. "Our 3D printing approach lets us capture that complexity in a way that wasn't possible before."
Real world applications
The potential impact of this technology is wide-ranging.
Doctors and medical students could one day train on 3D-printed brain models that look and feel like the real thing, giving them more chances to practice safely before working with patients.
Using the results of a patient's MRI or CT scans, researchers could print custom brain models to help doctors plan and personalize treatment. These models could also be used to study how conditions such as Alzheimer's, brain aneurysms or traumatic brain injuries develop.
Engineers could even use these models to observe how medical implants or everyday electronic devices interact with brain tissue, helping make research more accurate and reliable.
"This is about giving the medical and scientific communities a tool that's both realistic and personalized," Mujtaba Rafique Ghoto, a doctoral student and lead researcher on the study, said. "The possibilities for improving health and safety are enormous."
The study, "3D-printing soft tissue phantom models from photo-crosslinkable poly(vinyl alcohol) methacrylate," was published in the journal Materialia. Co-authors are Brett Ulery, B. Hayden Daubert and August J. Hemmerla at Mizzou; Deborah ParraCervantes and Stephan Young at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; W. David Hairston and Christopher G. Sinks at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
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Original text here: https://showme.missouri.edu/2026/3d-printed-brain-models-could-revolutionize-medical-research-and-training/
University of Houston: White Paper Examines Opportunities in Advanced Geothermal Energy
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 11 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Houston issued the following news:
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New White Paper Examines Opportunities in Advanced Geothermal Energy
By Binita Roy, 713-743-1696, broy@central.uh.edu
The Division of Energy in conjunction with the Gutierrez Energy Management Institute (GEMI) at the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston has released a new white paper, "Advanced Geothermal: Opportunities and Challenges," highlighting advanced geothermal energy's potential in becoming a critical pillar of the nation's low-carbon energy future.
With the development
... Show Full Article
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 11 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Houston issued the following news:
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New White Paper Examines Opportunities in Advanced Geothermal Energy
By Binita Roy, 713-743-1696, broy@central.uh.edu
The Division of Energy in conjunction with the Gutierrez Energy Management Institute (GEMI) at the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston has released a new white paper, "Advanced Geothermal: Opportunities and Challenges," highlighting advanced geothermal energy's potential in becoming a critical pillar of the nation's low-carbon energy future.
With the developmentof significant new technology in drilling and subsurface engineering, geothermal energy -- a century-old energy source that has traditionally been thought of as niche due to geographical constraints in production -- is set to become a reliable source of low-carbon energy that can be used across the United States.
The paper emphasizes that with the right policy signals and investment, Texas could capitalize on its existing oil and gas infrastructure and knowledge base to lead the nation in the growth of advanced geothermal.
"Advanced Geothermal has the potential to provide low carbon, firm electricity and district heating and cooling in large parts of the United States," said Greg Bean, Executive Director of the Gutierrez Energy Management Institute at the University of Houston's C. T. Bauer College of Business and author of the white paper.
This is good news at a time when rapid growth in artificial intelligence, data centers, and industrial electrification, it is expected that U.S. electricity demand will sharply increase over the next decade. Advanced geothermal offers a rare combination of firm, low-carbon continuous power helping to ease the pressure on the existing grid.
"Energy demand, especially electricity demand, is continuing to grow and we need to develop new low carbon energy sources to meet those needs," Bean said.
Texas is particularly well positioned to lead as much of the expertise and infrastructure required for advanced geothermal is already available with the state's oil and gas industry -- from drilling and reservoir development to subsurface engineering.
Building on these strengths could accelerate deployment and lower costs for advanced geothermal energy, while creating new opportunities for the existing energy workforce.
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REPORT: https://www.uh.edu/energy/_docs/_papers-reports/advances-in-geothermal-white-paper-feb2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2026/february/02102026-white-paper-geothermal.php
Kansas Middle and High School Students Compete in Regional Science Olympiad at FHSU
HAYS, Kansas, Feb. 11 -- Fort Hays State University issued the following news:
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Kansas middle and high school students compete in regional Science Olympiad at FHSU
Fort Hays State University hosted the annual regional Science Olympiad. Nearly 100 students from 11 Kansas schools, four middle and seven high schools, braved frigid weather to compete.
The top three finishers in each of the regional events received medals, and students achieving qualifying scores were invited to compete at the state event in April at Wichita State University.
The Science Olympiad is a competition involving
... Show Full Article
HAYS, Kansas, Feb. 11 -- Fort Hays State University issued the following news:
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Kansas middle and high school students compete in regional Science Olympiad at FHSU
Fort Hays State University hosted the annual regional Science Olympiad. Nearly 100 students from 11 Kansas schools, four middle and seven high schools, braved frigid weather to compete.
The top three finishers in each of the regional events received medals, and students achieving qualifying scores were invited to compete at the state event in April at Wichita State University.
The Science Olympiad is a competition involvinga wide variety of science and technology competitions, coordinated by faculty and students from several departments at the university. This year, representatives from FHSU departments of mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, physics, and the College of Education came together to coordinate this event.
"Science Olympiad is not just about the robots or the hovercrafts, it's really about the connection between students and teachers," said Dr. Tara Phleps-Durr, Professor and Chair of Biological Science at FHSU. "Here in Western Kansas, we have amazing mentors who pour everything into their students, and brilliant kids who are ready to take on any challenge. Seeing them work together makes it clear: the future of STEM is looking bright."
Competitions are divided into two divisions (Division B for middle schools and Division C for high schools). This year's school winners include:
Division B
* Third Place - Minneapolis
* Second Place - Hill City
* First Place - Palco
Division C
* Third Place - Hill City
* Second Place - Sacred Heart
* First Place - Goodland
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Original text here: https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2026/02/kansas-middle-and-high-school-students-compete-in-regional-science-olympiad-at-fhsu#gsc.tab=0
Early Stroke Sign and Symptom Recognition Tool for Spanish-speaking Populations Developed by UTHealth Houston Shows Promise
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston issued the following news:
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Early stroke sign and symptom recognition tool for Spanish-speaking populations developed by UTHealth Houston shows promise
By Jeannette Sanchez
The Spanish-language stroke-recognition acronym RAPIDO(TM), which was developed at UTHealth Houston, shows encouraging results in boosting early stroke awareness among Spanish-speaking adults.
The results were recently published in STROKE, a Journal of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
Researchers
... Show Full Article
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston issued the following news:
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Early stroke sign and symptom recognition tool for Spanish-speaking populations developed by UTHealth Houston shows promise
By Jeannette Sanchez
The Spanish-language stroke-recognition acronym RAPIDO(TM), which was developed at UTHealth Houston, shows encouraging results in boosting early stroke awareness among Spanish-speaking adults.
The results were recently published in STROKE, a Journal of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
Researchersled by Jennifer Beauchamp, PhD, RN, associate professor in the Department of Research at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, evaluated the impact of RAPIDO, which has been nationally adopted by the American Heart Association with two other Spanish-language stroke recognition tools, AHORA and PARA Stroke. The acronyms spell out signs of stroke and are intended to promote both stroke recognition awareness and a call to action for adults experiencing signs of stroke and to dial 911 immediately.
The goal of this nationwide study was to gain feedback from health care providers who treat stroke patients and the Spanish-speaking population across the United States to optimize the acronyms before determining whether they improve stroke awareness knowledge and retention of that knowledge in the Spanish-speaking community.
All three acronyms increased participants' ability to recognize stroke signs, as well as participants' confidence in the need to call emergency services, a critical factor in reducing stroke-related disability and death.
"What this study showed us is that being sensitive and linguistically supportive of one's culture increases stroke awareness knowledge and retention of that knowledge," said Beauchamp, who is the first author of the study and the Nancy B. Willerson Distinguished Professor in Nursing at Cizik School of Nursing.
Though stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the country, it is the fourth-leading cause of death for Hispanic men and the third for Hispanic women, according to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. Hispanic adults are at a higher risk for the disease because of limited access to health care, unmanaged health risk factors, lower health literacy rates, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic determinants of health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hispanic stroke patients experience longer delays to hospital arrival than non-Hispanic stroke patients, as well as poorer outcomes following stroke, according to a study co-authored by UTHealth Houston researchers and published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.
RAPIDO stands for:
R - Rostro caido (face drooping)
A - Alteracion del equilibrio (loss of balance, or lack of coordination)
P - Perdida de fuerza en el brazo (arm weakness)
I - Impedimento visual repentino (sudden vision difficulty)
D - Dificultad para hablar (slurred or strange speech)
O - Obten ayuda, llama al 911 (get help, call 911)
RAPIDO was created in 2021 when Beauchamp's nursing students and research team were writing Spanish subtitles for an English stroke education video. They realized BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, and Time), an adaptation of FAST, did not translate well into Spanish.
"Our RAPIDO work has created a movement emphasizing the importance of cultural and linguistic adaptations of stroke awareness education across the nation," Beauchamp said. "This work started out as a small educational project, but to see where it started from and where it is now is incredible. We are currently working on other adaptations of stroke awareness education across the United States and worldwide."
For more information about RAPIDO and stroke awareness, visit www.stroke.org/rapido.
For more about UTHealth Houston's history of RAPIDO, visit www.uth.edu/stroke-institute/resources/rapido-resources.
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Original text here: https://www.uth.edu/news/story/early-stroke-sign-and-symptom-recognition-tool-for-spanish-speaking-populations-developed-by-uthealth-houston-shows-promise
Converse University Fund Reaches Heights
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, Feb. 11 -- Converse University issued the following news:
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Converse Fund Reaches New Heights
Converse University's Institutional Advancement team is delighted to share that the Converse Fund exceeded its December 31, 2025 $1.5 million goal, raising $1,537,349 from 1,229 donors; 93 were first-time donors to Converse University.
Converse University President Boone Hopkins said, "I see the impact of the Converse Fund most clearly in the extraordinary work of our faculty as they empower students through Model Programs, student recitals, and faculty-sponsored research.
... Show Full Article
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, Feb. 11 -- Converse University issued the following news:
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Converse Fund Reaches New Heights
Converse University's Institutional Advancement team is delighted to share that the Converse Fund exceeded its December 31, 2025 $1.5 million goal, raising $1,537,349 from 1,229 donors; 93 were first-time donors to Converse University.
Converse University President Boone Hopkins said, "I see the impact of the Converse Fund most clearly in the extraordinary work of our faculty as they empower students through Model Programs, student recitals, and faculty-sponsored research.Each time a student is inspired to reach beyond what they once thought possible, the Converse Fund is helping fuel that success."
"This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the entire Converse community and especially our enthusiastic and dedicated alumni," Ericka Tyner Grodrian '02, Director of Annual Giving, said. "Many of our alumni went the extra mile this year, making phone calls, reconnecting with classmates, and championing Converse in meaningful ways."
The Converse Fund directly supports our work to transform and build the future of this beloved institution and all those we serve. Each gift makes an immediate impact by providing scholarships, supplying classroom technology and materials, supporting student success and wellness, recruiting top-notch faculty and staff, and much more. Gifts to this fund, cumulatively:
* Ensure deserving students from all backgrounds can call Converse home through expanded scholarships.
* Fund research and experiential learning, including study abroad opportunities.
* Maintain Converse's robust reputation -- a degree holds more weight when your school is thriving and well-funded.
* Signal a strong and supportive community. When current and prospective students see our community giving back, it sends a powerful message about the impact of a Converse education and the lasting value of our beloved institution.
President Hopkins shared, "The Converse Fund uniquely allows us to unlock the vital aspects of a Converse education that make our campus so vibrant. Through the Converse Fund, we personalize the student experience by supporting dedicated mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and cherished traditions that help every student grow into their full potential."
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Original text here: https://www.converse.edu/announcement/2026/02/the-converse-fund-reaches-new-heights/
