1/22/04 - Half-Million Dollar Grant Awarded to Reinhardt from The Goizueta Foundation

"By awarding this generous grant, The Goizueta Foundation will help Reinhardt improve the diversity of its student body," Reinhardt President Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood said. "And because these scholarships will go to teachers, this investment will pay dividends far beyond the walls of Reinhardt. Its true impact will also extend to the schools and communities where our graduates educate young people."

Faculty Senate Chair and Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Education Viviana C. Baxter was enthusiastic about the grant. "During these times of uncertainty, the need for the awareness and understanding of other cultures is great," she said. "A college campus is an exciting place to encourage students to form their own opinions about other languages, religions, cultures and traditions in an environment of collegiality, tolerance and freedom of expression. Our faculty looks forward to partnering in a successful program."

 Associate Professor of Religion and former Diversity Committee Chair Dr. Aquiles E. Martinez said the new efforts will raise awareness of diversity's importance in higher education and in character formation.  It will be a challenging model for institutions to imitate and will enrich the quality of education now provided.  Lastly, the new recruiting efforts are concrete evidence that Reinhardt is committed to ministering to an underserved and underrepresented sector of society, the largest and poorest minority group in the U.S.

Gayle Popham, Reinhardt's Executive Director of Development and Major Gifts, led the grant application process and was ecstatic about the award.

"It is a huge honor for Reinhardt to be among the recent grantees," Popham said. Because of The Goizueta Foundation officials' insight into the area's educational needs, they made their interest in education and diversity known when they invited Reinhardt to submit a grant proposal.  From January to November of 2003, the rigorous application included an extensive organizational overview and background check, a wish list outlining possible assistance areas, a site visit, and several rounds of written reports. 

The resulting proposal is a win-win. "I went back to the College's action planning process (which outlines new project needs) and looked at how we wanted to address diversity," Popham said.  "Then our president, admissions director, financial aid director, education dean, and I drafted a scholarship proposal. We matched a true institutional need with an opportunity for funding.  When The Goizueta Foundation suggested the bilingual recruiter, that really sealed the deal for us.  What an amazing opportunity for Reinhardt to bring in new students and also enrich the community!"

Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions Julie Cook said having a focused scholarship program supported by a bilingual recruiter will help Reinhardt better address diversity and reach prospective Hispanic and Latino students. The Goizueta Foundation Scholars will be selected in late spring and begin classes in the fall.

"We are very excited about the new scholarships," said Robert L. Driscoll, Reinhardt's education dean. "With the growing Hispanic population in our area, this comes at the perfect time."

Founded in 1992 by Roberto C. Goizueta, chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company from 1981 until his death in 1997, The Goizueta Foundation assists organizations that empower individuals and families through educational opportunities to improve the quality of their lives. It aims to support educational programs that promote sustainable change and have long-term community impact.

Reinhardt College is a co-ed, baccalaureate liberal arts college affiliated with The United Methodist Church. The Main Campus is located in Waleska, Ga., approximately 45 minutes northwest of Atlanta, Ga. Annual enrollment totals almost 1100 students, with approximately 400 students living on the Main Campus, and the remainder commuting to classes on the Main Campus or at the off-campus site in Alpharetta, Ga.  For more information on Reinhardt, please call 770-720-5526 or toll free at 1-87-reinhardt or check the College web site at http://www.reinhardt.edu/.

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