Inspire, Fall 2006

www . cedarville . edu / myapplication Now! Apply Apply online before November 1 , and we’ll waive the $30 application fee! Interest in attending Cedarville University is at near-record levels. This past fall, nearly 2,200 high school seniors submitted applications to attend this year, yet only one-third were able to accept admission. Why? “Lack of financial aid,” to quote students who declined our offer of admission and selected another school instead. For many, Cedarville was their preferred college, but their personal and family resources fell short of covering the cost of attendance. Some of these students selected another school merely because of cost. Like Rhoda Lambright … Cedarville was Rhoda’s top choice, and she eagerly accepted the offer to attend. But after her first semester, Rhoda reconsidered her decision. The stress of finances was beginning to worry her as she looked toward the years ahead. Concerned about expenses and future debt, Rhoda decided to leave Cedarville and enroll at a university closer to home — one that offered more financial assistance. But while away Rhoda’s heart yearned for the experiences she enjoyed her freshman year. “I felt God was leading me to come back and trust Him to provide a way to pay for my education here,” she said. Rhoda met with the financial aid office and was offered a grant that assists children whose parents are in a ministry. Though a small amount, it helped offset some of the costs — still nothing close to what she was offered at other schools. Now a junior, Rhoda is actively involved on campus. She works as a resident advisor and is vice president of the intramural racquetball club. “The thing I value most about my education here is how I’m being stretched and challenged both academically and spiritually. The Christian atmosphere is amazing!” she exclaimed. After graduating from Cedarville, Rhoda is looking forward to pursuing a career in nursing. Still concerned about how she will pay for her schooling, Rhoda is considering an opportunity where nurses serve in a remote Alaskan village and have their education loans paid off in return. Will you help? Students like Rhoda are many. They feel called to be at Cedarville. They have a heart to continue ministering to others when they graduate but need others to minister to them while here. To bridge the gap between student resources and the cost of attending Cedarville we need to provide additional student aid — we need to increase funding for annual scholarships. Donors currently provide more than $1.5 million annually in scholarship assistance. Our goal is to increase that by 20 percent annually. Gifts of all sizes contribute to this objective. Please consider ministering to Cedarville students by partnering with us. The more people who get involved, the greater the impact! Supporters of scholarship funding can utilize a variety of annual, major, and planned gift options to provide these vitally needed resources. Contact the Advancement Division at 1-800-766-1115 or visit www.cedarville.edu / financialpartners to learn more about how you can make a difference. Learn How You Can Help Students Inspire 23