Fort Valley State University (FVSU) President Dr. Paul Jones today announced the institution has received a $250,000 gift from an anonymous donor. The gift from the unnamed donor will support the university’s Finish Line initiative, a scholarship program that assists students who are unable to progress toward their degree completion because of financial constraints.

“Although the donor wishes to remain unnamed, this expression of generosity will not go unrecognized,” said Dr. Jones. “It is a remarkable demonstration of support for our institution’s mission, and a reminder that what we do is important. This transformational gift will enhance the university’s capacity to provide an exceptional student experience by removing financial obstacles allowing our scholars to realize their goal of earning a degree.”

The FVSU Finish Line scholarship is designed to bridge the gap and lessen the burden for students by completing the cost of tuition not covered by federal aid sources. The scholarship funds are targeted to juniors and seniors majoring in fields related to agriculture, food science, engineering, computer science, healthcare and business.

“These majors can often prove to be most challenging to finish when students are balancing their studies with work, internships, family commitments, and longer timelines to complete the curriculum,” said FVSU Vice President of Advancement Dr. Anthony Holloman. “Many of these students may be older or have taken longer to complete these technical studies than the typical four-year program. This is what we call the ‘finish line’—the funds will provide a final financial push to help students complete their degrees.”

Approximately 90% of FVSU students qualify for federal financial aid based on family or individual income requirements. University officials cite that financial aid awards change over the course of a student’s matriculation, sometimes limiting their access to aid as they progress through their degree programs. This issue is compounded if students take longer than the traditional four years of study because federal and state aid are often severely curtailed in their junior and senior years. This requires many students to work a high number of hours to help pay for tuition.

Holloman continued by saying these financial obstacles to completing a degree make scholarship initiatives like Finish Line essential for supporting students.

“This anonymous donation is consistent with FVSU’s student-centered values and it provides us an extra level of support that will benefit our students. We are especially grateful for this substantial contribution from a donor who clearly believes in and wants to support our commitment to students.”