Page 23 - June JSF report
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 FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY REPORT (2) JSF Final Impact Report June 2023
 1. To increase the impact on first-generation low- income students at Florida Atlantic University.
2. To minimize financial barriers that prevent matriculation.
  perspectives and lead to personal growth.
3. To provide co-curricular opportunities that lead to internships, gainful employment, or graduate school.
4. To provide experiences that foster global
We accomplished all objectives as outlined above. Our office was able to triple the number of students over the two-year grant period, by moving our engagement of students from 700 in year one to over 2,300 by year two. The funds provided in the grant enabled us to increase the number of programs, services, and events, that the office of fi rst-generation student success provided, which increased our engagement capacity. While we did not meet the number goals for our UMI (Urban Male Initiative) and RISE (Reaching Individual Success and Empowerment) programs respectively, we were still able to increase our overall student engagement by more than 20%. Through the scholarship funds and mini-grants provided through the grant, we were able to prevent financial barriers toward academic success of the students who needed it the most: first-generation, low- income, graduating juniors and seniors during one of the most challenging times in history, the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to providing co-curricular opportunities to the students who engaged in our UMI and RISE programs, we were also able to engage major employers who interested in diversifying their employment pool through direct engagement with first-generation students. With the funds, we hosted workshops with leading companies like NextEra energy, which led to the gainful employment opportunities of several students. Our ability to send students on a site visit at NextEra’s main headquarters in Juno Beach proved to be enriching to our students and has opened up the possibility of more experiential learning opportunities with other companies.
“As I approached my last semester in college, I found myself in a financial crisis. I had exhausted all other financial aid and could not pay for my last...With my current salary being affected by job displacement due to Covid, I was unable to pay for tuition out of pocket......Through the Johnson Foundation grant .... I can receive my teaching certification as well as apply for teaching jobs in my local county. The Johnson Scholarship foundation came at a much-needed time and gave me the financial push that I needed to achieve a better future.”
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- Linqua Spikes, Student
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