The Return on Investment Scholarship Fund

The reality for many college students today involves student loans and the related weight and stress, which I have developed a deep understanding of in my time as an undergraduate. However, I have been able to refocus and motivate myself by reminding myself that loans are an investment. An investment in myself. A version of myself that gives my best to these four years, maximizes every opportunity, and takes me far on the wave of being fortunate enough to receive a university degree even if it involves debt. I tell myself that these loans are an investment, and that they are an investment that I will guarantee a return on. I am one of four children and despite unwavering support from my parents, the costs of the education I have chosen are an ongoing struggle. So many college students are in the situation of not qualifying for government aid, yet still unable to graduate debt-free because of varying family and individual dynamics. The Return on Investment Scholarship is for college students that have taken out or need to take out student loans to be able to afford their degree but are committed to making it count. Specifically, the scholarship is meant for students at four-year institutions in the Midwest with a demonstrated entrepreneurial involvement or attitude. The scholarship values genuine, ambitious, and hard-working students and families with the goal of investing alongside them in the bright future that a college education provides. Funded by Midwest companies, families, individuals, startups, and organizations, the scholarship gives donors the opportunity to invest in high-potential students and facilitate long-term connections in the process. It’s one thing to make an investment in yourself, but to have that backed by someone else believing in you can create lasting impact on both ends. Starting a scholarship that supports and invests in students has been a dream of mine for years, and the realization that I can crowdfund rather than fund the scholarship myself has made this start possible. I am committed to growing the scholarship more every year and am excited to see where the mission takes me.