Some $400,000 of the grant will be set aside for 15 student scholarships at the private school. To qualify, applicants must show "significant financial need," spokesman Kevin Curry said in an email. The college's goal is to have the scholarships entice students who might not otherwise consider Linfield to apply, saying the grant recipients will likely be first-generation college students and eligible for the federal Pell grant given to low-income students.
Linfield will roll out the scholarships to freshman or transfer students over the next five years. Students will graduate with natural sciences or mathematics degrees.
"This grant will help Linfield build upon an already robust interdisciplinary science program that includes research opportunities and student-led learning communities," Thomas Hellie, Linfield's president, said in a statement. "Not only will it allow low income students the opportunity to study in sciences, math or technology, it will also enhance and expand existing programs for all our students."
The remainder of the grant will pay for faculty and peer mentors, internships and other programs designed to keep the students engaged in the program.
©2016 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
