Supporting the Community Scholars Program Endowment

For nearly 60 years, Georgetown University’s Community Scholars Program has been a pioneer in supporting the academic success of first-generation college students from under-resourced high schools. Housed within the Division of Student Affairs, the program is a vital pillar in Georgetown’s commitment to student well-being, working in close partnership with the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access and the Georgetown Scholars Program.

The program’s hallmark is a rigorous five-week summer pre-orientation on Georgetown’s campus before students’ first year. Participants take credit-bearing courses; attend orientation workshops; and form bonds with faculty, administrators, and each other to lay the foundation for a successful academic career at Georgetown.

Animated by the Jesuit value of cura personalis, or care of the whole person, the program’s support extends well into students’ undergraduate years, including academic advising, course pre-registration opportunities, and instructional support. Community Scholars have a graduation rate of 93%, well above the 24% average graduation rate for first-generation college students nationally.

“Community Scholars Program faculty and staff work hard to build a strong support system for our scholars because they worked so hard to get to Georgetown. They are extraordinarily talented and the top of their class. They earn the highest possible test scores during extraordinary circumstances in their lives. We make sure they have clarity about where they’re heading and don’t lose themselves in the face of adversity.”

—Charlene Brown-McKenzie (C’95, S’23), a Community Scholars Program alumna who now serves as senior associate dean of students and executive director of access and success

Community Scholars 50th Anniversary Celebration

Securing and expanding this proven model

The Community Scholars Program has experienced considerable growth in recent years and currently serves more than 300 students. In Fall 2024, it welcomed 88 first-year students, the program’s largest-ever cohort. Georgetown’s Class of 2028 includes the highest percentage of students who are Pell-eligible (meaning they receive federal grants because of significant financial need) in more than a decade.

The Community Scholars Program is poised to have an even more significant role at Georgetown as the university continues to expand its enrollment of limited-income students and ensure they have the tools they need to thrive on campus and in their chosen careers.

Even with this upward trajectory, national recognition, and documented impact, the Community Scholars Program is not yet fully endowed, limiting its scope and depth. The program has received generous gifts to establish its first dedicated endowment—a crucial foundation, providing annual resources in support of the program’s mission and ambitions. We now turn to our donor community to build on that initial gift as we work toward our goal to fully endow the Community Scholars Program. Additional resources would further enable Georgetown to increase the program size; add dedicated staff; and boost academic, professional, and mental health support for Community Scholars.

“Most universities sent me a letter saying, ‘Congratulations, you’re accepted!’ Only Georgetown mentioned a program for first-generation, low-income students. It reinforced Georgetown’s commitment towards caring for students and providing an accessible and equitable education for all. It was very impressive.”

—Ali Chaudhry (B’26), a Community Scholar and International Business Asia Regional Studies major

Comprehensive support for a flourishing student community

This is a pivotal moment for the development of the Community Scholars Program—and for Georgetown’s holistic approach to providing every student with the resources and care needed to flourish. For the last 20 years, the Community Scholars Program has been complemented by initiatives such as the Georgetown Scholars Program, which provides wraparound resources such as mentorship, professional development, and microgrants to further position undergraduate students for success. Many participants in the Community Scholars Program receive additional financial and basic needs support through Georgetown Scholars Program, and both programs work in concert within the Belonging and Mattering portfolio in Georgetown’s Division of Student Affairs.

“The Community Scholars Program at Georgetown was one of the most formative experiences of my life. It helped me and other first-generation students who shared a deep drive for excellence understand that we belong—in any setting, in any room.”

—Sundaa Bridget-Jones (SFS’93), chief partnership and advocacy officer for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

Supporting the Community Scholars Program Endowment

Community Scholars 50th Anniversary Celebration

Securing and expanding this proven model

Comprehensive support for a flourishing student community

With appreciation

Related

Community Scholars 50th Anniversary Celebration video

A legacy of belonging

A bridge program to ensure that every student can thrive