Impact Stories

Expanding Access to the UMass Experience

With the new Flagship Scholarship Fund, the university is making it easier for students to develop their vast potential at the state’s flagship campus.

When it’s time to decide on a college, many of today’s students must base their choice on financial concerns rather than which school offers them the best education.  

As the state’s flagship public university, UMass Amherst is addressing this challenge head-on. The university has made a commitment to revolutionize access to higher education for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds through Accelerate: The Campaign for UMass Amherst.

The newly created Flagship Scholarship Fund is a part of that commitment. The fund was established to help close the financial gap many students face between the financial aid they are offered and the amount their families can afford to pay.  

In its four months of existence, more than 700 alumni, parents, and friends have made gifts to the fund.

“We have to do everything possible to make higher education more affordable,” says John Carson ’66 MS, who directed a portion of his gift to the fund this year. 

“At the end of the day, higher education is critically important because life is too complex. Higher education strengthens your ability to reason, helps you learn how to make good decisions, and instills understanding about why what’s come before us is important.”

—John Carson ’66 MS

Carson, who earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Hartford in Connecticut as a commuter student, credits his time at UMass Amherst studying for a graduate degree in economics with broadening his life experience and helping him determine the direction of his future career.

“UMass prepared me both academically and culturally for my career as an economist,” he says. “It gave me my first taste of the residential experience. I lived and socialized with others in my program. Together, we learned teamwork and how to network.”

After graduation, Carson worked as an economic advisor at a bank in Connecticut and later became the commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Economic Development.  

When he transitioned to working in higher education, holding several leadership positions at his undergraduate alma mater, he saw firsthand how families struggled to afford college.  

“I was watching people have to come up with the money to improve their kids’ futures,” he says. “Higher education institutions, especially public ones like UMass Amherst, are so important for the growth of the state and the region. We have to enable more students to attend and take advantage of what college has to offer.”

The Flagship Scholarship Fund piqued Carson’s interest specifically because he is grateful for the education he received, and he wants to pay it forward.

“I’m putting my money where my mouth is. In this day and age, so many need assistance,” he says. “I hope other people will realize it feels good to provide that help, and it’s an investment in the state. If you have an extra nickel in your pocket, higher ed scholarships are a great thing to support.”

 

Help UMass Amherst close the financial gap for talented students. Make a gift to the Flagship Scholarship Fund today. 

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