When making investments in a young person for their education, we want them to succeed. Focusing on the whole person and their individual circumstance is the way to go.
The Selby Foundation’s Regional Scholarship Provider Network meeting on July 23, 2025 focused on student support services–opportunities for scholarship providers to ensure the students they invest in have all the tools for success.
Dr. Anayah Walker, Director of Student Programs at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, provided an impactful presentation about the topic, helping scholarship providers of all levels consider how they can best nurture the students they select for scholarships. A few of Dr. Walker’s practical strategies include:
- Asking students how they prefer to receive communications and information.
- Offering programs during flexible times when students (who may be working or have full lives outside of school) can attend.
- When possible, building incentives for student participation in helpful support services.
- Requiring check ins with students to inquire about their challenges and opportunities to further support their success and provide interventions early, before students may be falling behind.
- Creating a digital resource hub using a platform students prefer.
- When you cannot offer a resource (or it’s beyond the scope of what you provide), referring students to other resources that can help. There are many in our region.
- Celebrating students for their wins and for their progress!
Want to learn with our supportive and interactive group? Join the Regional Scholarship Provider Network at our next meeting! Email the Selby Foundation’s Senior Scholarships Manager Kiarra Womack at KWomack@SelbyFdn.org for details. All are welcome.