Making a Real Difference through Access to Education: A Wells Fargo and APIA Scholars Partnership Continues to Give
Wells Fargo and APIA Scholars are celebrating 200 scholars who have empowered and lifted their communities, despite being financially impacted by the pandemic. The inaugural cohort of the Wells Fargo Student Impact Scholarship Program received financial awards and mentorship opportunities, offered through an APIA Scholars and Wells Fargo collaboration.
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- APIA Scholars and Wells Fargo celebrated the conclusion of the Student Impact Scholarship and Mentorship Program via a virtual recognition event on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Wells Fargo launched the Student Impact Scholarship in 2020, committing $1 million to help close the financial gap posed by COVID-19 prohibiting many students from continuing and completing college. This new initiative, administered by APIA Scholars, provided 200 diverse students with $5,000 each – funds to help them cover various costs for their instruction and potentially make the difference in being able to continue their education. This scholarship is the latest example of the partnership between Wells Fargo and APIA Scholars and showcases how such organizations can work together to create meaningful student impact.
In addition to the scholarship, scholars also had the opportunity to participate in the mentorship program, being paired with volunteer mentors from Wells Fargo to help them navigate beyond college and into their career. The ceremony included Wells Fargo's leaders and volunteer mentors who recognized the many achievements of this cohort of Scholars as they finish out the academic year and conclude their mentorship program which gifts them with lasting relationships to help navigate their careers. A keynote address was provided by Kleber Santos, Head of Diverse Segments, Representation & Inclusion at Wells Fargo Company.
"Wells Fargo is honored to provide financial support to college students at this important part of their educational journey. Our metrics tell us that nearly 45% of scholarship recipients are in their 4+ year of college. The support our firm provided to this inaugural scholar cohort will help to speed scholars to degree completion over the next few weeks," said Santos.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic and with the support of Wells Fargo, APIA Scholars and their mentors, they are demonstrating resilience and making a positive social impact in their communities.
"At APIA Scholars, we are committed to supporting the holistic needs of our Scholars. While the scholarship addresses critical financial barriers to accessing, persisting, and completing a college degree – wraparound services, like mentorship programs, provide an invaluable support system which college students need to guide them on a pathway to success. We are honored to collaborate with Wells Fargo to administer this scholarship and mentorship program for a diverse group of two-year and four-year college students," said Noel Harmon, President, APIA Scholars.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 30 on Fortune's 2020 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health and a low-carbon economy. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at http://www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo.
About APIA Scholars
Based in Washington, D.C. and founded in 2003, Asian & Pacific Islander American (APIA) Scholars is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted to creating opportunities that provide access to higher education and resources that cultivate the academic, personal and professional success of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs). These efforts aim to advance the conversation around access to education, elevate the voice of the APIA community, and empower APIA leaders to drive systemic change. APIA Scholars has impacted the lives of more than 1 million APIA students, involved more than 250 corporate funders to elevate and amplify its message, and mobilized thousands of congressional members, policy makers and researchers to take action in support of APIA community advancement.
For more information about APIA Scholars, please visit us at http://www.apiascholars.org. | Twitter: @APIA_Scholars
Learn more: - 2021 Student Impact Scholarship Recipients - https://collegesteps.wf.com/scholarship-entry-information/
Event playback: Wells Fargo Student Impact Scholarship Celebration #ImpactMakers - April 22, 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7M8a41MSGQ
Event photo journal - https://wf.omgbooth.com/gallery/
Media Contact
Dawn Baron, APIA Scholars, +1 703-434-9306, [email protected]
SOURCE APIA Scholars
Share this article