Wisconsin—Wisconsin Academy (WA) was recently chosen as an official partner school with Pathways to Success, a division of the Commonweal Foundation based in Silver Spring, Md.

When considering Christian education, cost is often a factor. “But we have to weigh the cost of not sending our children to our Christian schools,”says Derral Reeve, WA principal.

The new partnership with Pathways to Success might make the decision to enroll your children at WA a little easier. Pathways to Success is a scholarship program that offers funding of up to $5,000 per year to students who are experiencing boarding school for the first time. To qualify for this new program, you must be a first-time boarding school student in grades 9–12 and have a family income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

Although currently enrolled students are not eligible, over 50 percent of WA students already receive some level of financial assistance. This new program will assist many incoming students and make Christian education possible for students who might not have been able to attend otherwise.

Students accepted into the Pathways program will have the opportunity to reapply for continued assistance each year until they graduate. Scholarship awards are dependent on current financial status. There is also no minimum or maximum number of students who can apply for a scholarship.

Students in the program will have opportunities to meet with Pathways representatives to share their experiences during the school year, and be treated to a Pathways celebration meal. Additional benefits include having a special birthday recognition and receiving a copy of the PathNotes newsletter, featuring students and alumni of the Pathways program.

“The faculty and staff are extremely excited, not to mention honored, to have this program move onto the WA campus,” says Reeve. “Now more students have the opportunity to enjoy the WA experience that has been shared by so many before them!”

Pathways to Success Boarding School Scholarship program was started in Aug. 1994 and has awarded approximately 2,000 scholarships. WA joins twenty-seven other boarding schools throughout the United States in this program.

If you have any questions regarding the Pathways to Success program, please contact Michelle Shufelt, WA development director, by calling (920) 623-3300 or e-mail development@wisacad.org.

Michelle Shufelt, Wisconsin Academy development director

Suggested Break-out Box

The family adjusted gross income must be (as determined by line 33 of the 2004 Federal Tax Return for parents in the student’s home) at or below the following amounts:

Family of 2—cap is $30,000

Family of 3—cap is $31,340

Family of 4—cap is $37,700

Family of 5—cap is $44,060

Family of 6 or more—cap is $50,420