How can students with families juggle everything? A new initiative offers hope for these students.
For the many K-State graduate students balancing studies and parenthood, the financial challenge of raising a family is one more hurdle on the way to finishing their degrees.
K-State’s Student Parent Success Initiative is knocking down this hurdle. Grad students receive $500 to $1,000 to put toward the expenses of raising a family, helping them focus on their studies with fewer financial worries.
But these students need more help.
“We’ve been able to support only about half the applicants, addressing only 30% of the students’ reported financial need,” said Megan Miller, assistant director of student success for the K-State Graduate School. “In addition to needing support for daycare, some students have children with health challenges or cannot afford health insurance. Others struggle to put food on the table.”
Boosting mental health
A lack of financial resources can take a toll on students’ mental health and interfere with their academic success.
“Several applicants noted their mental health was suffering from either not having the financial resources to meet their family’s basic needs or from the struggle of balancing multiple responsibilities,” Miller said. “Students express great relief when they receive the scholarship, and they’re grateful to know K-State cares about them as a person.”
These scholarships make graduate school what it’s supposed to be: a fulfilling and enriching experience.
Your turn
Help grad students with families succeed.
Connect with your cause
Building a better world
K-State engineering students are building sustainable solutions around the world. The campus chapter of Engineers Without Borders has traveled to Guatemala, Nicaragua and Malawi to build schools, latrines and water wells for communities in need.
Students build skills and cross-cultural relationships — constructing success in life.
Piloting with a purpose
Hospitals are not a fun place to be, especially for children. K-State Salina’s Pilots for Kids chapter brings joy (and toys) to young patients, and future pilots learn about community service.
“Whenever you use your passion in the service of others, it becomes a purpose,” said Jack Byrne, senior in the professional pilot program and lead organizer. “This is an incredible way for our students to develop academic skills and a sense of service.”
