Liberty University pledges $200,000 to Beacon of Hope, supports mentor program and scholarships for local high school students

Liberty University recently donated $200,000 to the Stay Close, Go Far Promise Scholarship Program, administered by Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, to aid high school seniors in Lynchburg City Schools. The university has also continued its partnership this year by supporting its students who serve as mentors in the organization’s High School Future Centers.

Liberty’s donation completes the final funds needed to meet the $7 million Stay Close, Go Far campaign goal.

The goals of Stay Close, Go Far are twofold: to help eliminate the financial barriers that prevent students from attending college and to both train and retain Lynchburg’s workforce of the future.

“We continue to be humbled by and grateful for the leadership support Liberty University continues to afford Beacon of Hope,” said Lynchburg Beacon of Hope Executive Director Laura Hamilton. “Liberty’s collective innovative thinking has been truly instrumental in the success of our career-driven programs, our student success, and the Stay Close, Go Far Scholarship since Beacon’s earliest days.”

“This partnership is a perfect match for Liberty University,” said Liberty University President Jerry Prevo. “We want to invest in the young people in our community and help them obtain a college degree so they can fulfill their career dreams.”

This is the third year Liberty has participated in the scholarship program, which pledges to invest up to $8,000 per student over four years to go toward tuition at a partnering higher education institution. Though Liberty is one of six area institutions to partner with the program, the university announced in 2018 that it was taking its involvement a step further by providing an additional $8,000 to help with the cost of meal plans. This means eligible Lynchburg City Schools graduates could receive up to $16,000 in scholarship aid over four years at Liberty.

Liberty now has close to 40 students enrolled who have been financially blessed through Beacon of Hope. The program is seeing high retention rates among its students. Liberty’s Office of Equity and Inclusion works with the organization to ensure these students are fully supported before and after they begin their college careers.

“This partnership with Beacon of Hope is an investment in the future of our community,” said Shon Muldrow, LU’s Executive Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. “Together, we make sure that prospective students are aware of available scholarships and other programs, such as dual enrollment, transfer opportunities, early enrollment to LU, and so on. Our goal is to present equitable opportunity by providing a portion of unmet need.”

Through the federal work study program, Liberty has sent scores of students to Beacon of Hope’s High School Future Centers at the two city high schools for several years. The centers are the hubs for all college and career readiness programming. This year, over 45 Liberty students will serve as “near peer” mentors, working individually with students and their families to help build a bridge to college for those who would not be able to attend otherwise, including economically disadvantaged students and first-generation students – the first in their family to attend college. Liberty mentors tutor high school students in math and science, help improve their study skills, and assist in college preparation tasks, including helping them study for the ACT and SAT, complete the FAFSA, work on college essays and applications, and apply for scholarships.