Aid appreciation

I was excited to get an email in my inbox with the words: “You are the 2010-2011 recipient of the Anonymous Scholarship, a donor-funded scholarship that supports your financial aid. Congratulations on this special honor!”

But when I looked at my new financial aid balance, my joyful bubble popped: I realized that the new $17,658 scholarship wasn’t going towards my family contribution or even my loans. It was going exclusively to the Middlebury College grant part of my financial aid package, therefore not changing, well, anything.

What does this scholarship actually mean for me and Middlebury College? It turns out that I am really just the “face” of this anonymous scholarship — a way for the Scholarship Office to acquire a poster child for a donor. As a scholarship recipient, I am asked to get my photograph taken and write a personalized thank-you letter to my donor, “to show appreciation for my financial aid.”

Don’t get me wrong, I am 100 percent grateful for the financial aid the College has given me over the four years. I find it incredible that donors contribute to this fund, thereby making it possible for the College to support all students regardless of financial background. I am also willing to voice my appreciation for this aid, and produce a well-written, thoughtful, and heartfelt thank-you letter to the many donors who have supported my education.

But isn’t awarding me a specific scholarship that has no direct financial implications on my aid a backhanded way to ask me to show my appreciation? Isn’t it misleading for the donor to believe they are helping me exclusively with their generous donation, when, in fact, their money is truly going to the vast pool of College grant aid that is then distributed to nearly half of the students at this College? Was I selected for the scholarship merely because my financial need was so great that giving me $17,658 wouldn’t even exceed the grant portion of my aid?

With this policy, students who get financial aid are being asked to demonstrate their gratefulness more than everyone else at this college. In reality, we should all be grateful for the amazing education we are receiving, regardless of whether the money is coming from our parents or outside donors. Maybe we should all be required to write yearly, personalized, heartfelt letters to our parents thanking them for their aid. Education is a community investment.

I voiced my concerns to the Student Financial Services office and the scholarship office to get some answers. After all, the original email had directed me to contact the Scholarship office if I had any questions. After three exchanges with Financial Services, I didn’t get any new information. In a final, terse e-mail, I was informed that “Since you have such reservations about the fund and process I am going to remove you from it and replace you with another student.” I e-mailed back that I just had questions — I wasn’t implying that I didn’t want to accept the scholarship. It has been two weeks, but still no response. I then emailed the scholarship office twice to set up an appointment to talk — but again, no response except an email a week later deferring me back to Financial Services. Is there a “no questions” policy for scholarship recipients? Why so secretive?

So now, I’m still waiting. Maybe someone will get back to me? Or will the offices just keep turning a blind eye and sweeping my emails into the trash bin?

(And just out of curiosity, who is my scholarship replacement? Have they picked you yet?)

Alena Giesche ’11 is from Alfred, N.Y.