Grand Canyon Times

Grand Canyon University started to welcome Fostering Futures Scholarship recipients to campus on Friday, as 11 students from the foster care system, who received full-ride scholarship awards, began moving on campus.

The scholarships were implemented by the Arizona Department of Child Safety and GCU’s partnership to support children in the state.

“A lot of people were telling me I wasn’t going to be able to do it because I wouldn’t have the resources and I wouldn’t have the money, but honestly Arizona has a lot of really good programs to help foster care students go to college,” April Ciarametaro, one of the 11 students, told KTAR.

Michael Faust, director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, said the scholarships provide not only opportunities for students, but also for the state.

"These kids experienced foster care through no fault of their own, so how can we now pour back into them and help them be successful?” Faust said. 

He said the scholarship provides home at a time when it’s sorely needed.

“What President Mueller and the GCU team has built with this scholarship program offers a safe place for them to be year-round, a supportive and safe network of adults to help them get there, and then now they’re capturing an education that’s going to set them up for success,” he said.

Although many students in the foster care system don’t pursue higher education, the scholarship provides evidence of what’s possible for those who come from difficult circumstances, students said.

“You can do it. I didn’t think that I would be able to, but here I am halfway through my second year of GCU and I haven’t paid a dime,” Ciarametaro said.

The Arizona DCS marked the occasion Friday on Twitter.

"Our 11 Fostering Futures scholars moved into GCU dorms yesterday and were properly spoiled with an amazing lunch, care packages sponsored by DCS staff and GCU parents, swag bags from the bookstore, and even longboards from the Swappow Plus Foundation," the post said.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey also welcomed the students onto the GCU campus.

“School’s back in session,” Ducey said in the post. “Six months ago we launched the Fostering Futures Scholarship with @GCU and @ArizonaDCS to give students who have been in Arizona’s foster care system a full-ride scholarship to GCU. Now, the first recipients are on campus."