Benefiting the First Generation Scholarship Fund
At Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University's annual premier event, the Founders Gala, we celebrate our rich heritage while supporting our mission of serving first-generation students by raising money for the First Generation Scholarship Fund.
We bestow the President's Medal, a prestigious annual award, to those whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University.
First awarded in 2023, the Chairperson's Award is presented to individuals who have made a positive impact upon their profession or community and in the spirit of the mission of Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University.
About the Founders Gala
History
The Founders Gala is Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University's annual premier event. Since 2014, Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University has celebrated our heritage while supporting our mission of serving first-generation students by raising money for the First Generation Scholarship Fund.
Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK also honors its annual recipients of the prestigious President's Medal at the gala.
The First Generation Scholarship Fund
Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University established the First Generation Scholarship Fund in 2014 to provide support for tuition, fees, textbooks and course materials for students who are the first in their family to attend a college or university.
The founders of Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University recognized that helping young people attend college benefited the individual even as it strengthened the region, and they wove that into the fabric of the institution. Even after all these years, over half of our incoming first year students still identify themselves as the first generation of their family to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University continues to play a vital role in opening opportunities that lead to success.
Gala Awards
The President's Medal
The President’s Medal is bestowed annually on individuals whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University. First awarded in 2014, the medal is presented to deserving individuals at the annual Founders Gala celebration.
The Chairperson's Award
The Chairperson's Award is presented to individuals who have made a positive impact upon their profession or community and in the spirit of the mission of Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK University. First awarded in 2023, recipients serve as an inspiration to Â鶹ÊÓƵAPK students and bring honor and pride to the University.