DESERT PALMS

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

On Sunday, March 22, we will recognize Desert Palms’ Scholarship Program by introducing two or three of the students who are currently in the program. They will be introduced at both services and will be in Fellowship Hall during the coffee hour. The church has always been proud of the program and we hope you will take a minute to greet them. 

The program has focused on helping students who could not afford to continue their education beyond high school. Since 1995 when the Scholarship program started we have had 75 students in our program. Those who completed their education are now pursuing careers in education, nursing, business, auto repair, massage, farming, and one is a builder of string instruments. We currently have 12 students in the program who are pursuing their educational dreams.

The cost of education has increased at both the Community Colleges and the State Universities and this trend is expected to continue. Since 1997, tuition has increased by 80% at the Community Colleges and 148% at the Universities. For this reason we were unable to offer any new scholarships in 2009. It seems self evident that reducing support for educating our youth has profound long term negative effects on the overall economic and social health of our nation. It is the hope of the members of the Scholarship Committee that we will be able to resume the offering of scholarships next year.