CAA scholarship program reaches $2 million

by Susan F. Detlefsen, Staff Writer

In a legacy spanning 54 years, Catholic Aid Association’s scholarship program reached a special milestone this year. The program awarded $164,500 in scholarships to members in 2009, bringing the program’s cumulative award total to more than $2 million.

“We’re proud of our membership for having the vision to start this program five decades ago, and for supporting it for so many years,” said President and Chairman Michael McGovern. “This is truly a milestone worth celebrating.”

Establishing a scholarship legacy

The front page of the June 22, 1955, issue of the Catholic Aid News announced the first appeal ever for scholarship applicants. “Boys and girls” who were members of the Association and were high school graduates were invited to apply for teaching scholarships to any Catholic college in the Midwest.

Applicants had to demonstrate financial need, an interest in the teaching profession and have an academic record that proved they could succeed at college study.

The scholarships were renewable for all fours years a student was enrolled in teacher’s college, provided that their “scholastic record was satisfactory.” Demonstrating a need of the times, the program’s purpose was “to increase the number of properly qualified Catholic lay teachers for the elementary and secondary schools of this area.”

Dr. Gordon T. Tierney, president of the Men’s Council, recommended establishing a scholarship program at the 1954 annual convention. The original motion states that the program would award 10 to 15 scholarships to students graduating from high school in June of 1955. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Tierney also served as the chairman of the first scholarship committee, advised by Archbishop R. J. Connolle, superintendent of schools of the then Archdiocese of St. Paul.
Eight scholarships were awarded in August of that year to three men and five women: Francis Brawn of Glencoe, Minn.; Pamela Douglas of Cannon Falls, Minn.; Robert W. Skillings of St. Paul, Minn.; Bernetta Lieser of St. Martin, Minn.; Patricia Schwab of Comfrey, Minn.; Loretta Sieben of Hastings, Minn.; Dennis Wagener of Glencoe, Minn.; and Dolores Wagner of New Market, Minn. Photos of the winners were published on page seven of the August 22 edition of CA News, a tradition that continues 54 years later as you’ll see on pages 11 through 19 of this magazine.

The unanimous passing of the program at the 1954 convention demonstrated its popularity among Catholic Aid members, who then took active steps to make sure the program succeeded. Just two months after the first scholarships were awarded, the Catholic Women’s Union gave a donation of $1,000 to the fund, roughly equivalent to nearly $8,000 in adjusted dollars today. In the years to come, the scholarship fund continued to receive regular donations from members.

Marie Schwantes, scholarship chairman and executive board member of the Catholic Women’s Union, wrote in the Dec. 22, 1955 issue of Catholic Aid News that “Catholics have a right to take pride in our schools and an obligation to demonstrate a desire and capacity to meet the major problems facing Catholic education. Therefore, the Scholarship Program, which we undertook at our Convention in September, is most worthy and necessary.”

Ten years later, in an appeal for donations in the April 22, 1965 issue of Catholic Aid News, President Tierney described the thriving program as “one of the most important projects to engage the attention of the members of our organization.”

Changing to fit into a changing world

Change is inevitable, and the scholarship program has changed over time to reflect the cultural, religious and education movements prevalent in Catholic and American society. The scholarship is no longer restricted to students intending to enter the teaching profession. Also, the scholarship has changed to a one-time only award, rather than a renewable scholarship.

One thing that has stayed the same for the last few decades is the scholarship amount. While the total giving amounts for the entire program have continued to go up steadily in the past 20 years [see graph below] the actual amount of awards has stayed consistent: $500 for students attending Catholic colleges and universities, $300 for those attending non-Catholic institutions. Considering the skyrocketing cost of post-secondary education these days, the amount of the awards has been revisited several times by the Fraternal department and Catholic Aid’s officers. Each time the amount has been reviewed, CAA has decided to keep the awards the same. Why?

“There are two reasons,” explained Kathleen Moriarty, director of the Fraternal Department. “First, we want to help as many members as we can through this program. We consider the scholarship program to be a member benefit, which means if you are a Catholic Aid member and you meet the basic criteria of the program, then you receive the benefit.

“Second, the program continues to grow almost every year. While the amount of the individual awards hasn’t gone up, the total amount of awards we give out has increased every year in the last 10 years. In 1999, we awarded 154 scholarships. This year we awarded 491, for a total of $164,500 awards given in 2009. That is an amazing number of lives impacted by this program.”
In the last 54 years, more than 5,700 Catholics have received a CAA scholarship to defray tuition costs.

Little-known facts about the program

There are aspects to the program that aren’t as well known. The average scholarship recipient is 18-years of age and has recently graduated from high school. While this is typical, scholarships aren’t limited to this type of student. There is no age limit in the application guidelines, which means a student of any age can apply and potentially receive a scholarship, just as long as they are enrolled for their first or second year in an accredited program with the intention of earning an undergraduate degree or certification.

Typically, most scholarship recipients are planning to attend a four-year school, such as a college or university. But again, the scholarship guidelines aren’t limited to just the big institutions. Students who choose to attend community colleges, vocational-technical institutions or job training are also eligible for a scholarship, as long as the program is accredited and the student is on track for a certification or undergraduate degree.

The future of the scholarship program

Moriarty says the scholarship program is going strong, and, like all Catholic Aid Fraternal programs, is under constant scrutiny to maintain the program’s effectiveness and continuity. In the future, Fraternal may add scholarships that will be awarded to students based on merit and Catholic service. Also, the Fraternal staff intend to keep in contact with scholarship winners and offer them guidance on several topics, including thriving in a college environment, maintaining a faith life through college and serving as a young leader to their Catholic communities.

“There is an enormous link between educational success and financial success,” Moriarty said. “We are proud to help provide some of the means to help our members get the tools that will help them be successful in their careers, which translates to a stronger Catholic community and a stronger Catholic Aid Association.”

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