Fall/Winter 2007

Access initiative provides opportunities for Ohio students

When Justinn Eddie was growing up, he enjoyed working with his hands and dreamed of one day becoming an inventor. Now, thanks to Miami University's Access Initiative, that dream is one very important step closer to reality.

Eddie, a native of Cleveland, is among 163 Miami freshmen on campus as a result of the Access Initiative program, which was announced by President David Hodge on the occasion of his first Annual Address on Aug. 18, 2006. Through the innovative scholarship program, academically qualified Ohio students with a household Adjusted Gross Income of $35,000 or less can receive scholarship and/or grant funds that meet the cost of tuition and fees at Miami. The funds do not cover expenses for room, board, books, and personal expenses, but those costs can be covered through additional scholarships.

"I looked at Miami and its engineering school early on and was praying I could go there," Eddie said. "When I got the letter about the Access Initiative, I finally knew where I could get the money."

In addition to the 163 incoming freshmen, another 70 students relocated to Miami's Oxford campus after previously attending its regional campuses. In all, 233 students are benefiting from the program, which is funded through a variety of means, including income from the bequest of Lois Klawon `39, matching gifts from other donors, and federal and state financial aid available to the students.

Eddie, who lives with his grandmother, mother, and sister, is the first member of his family to attend a four-year college. The support provided by the Access Initiative is not only making a difference in his life, but also in the eyes of his 12-year old sister, Mercedes, who is now fostering her own college dreams.

"It was an open gateway to higher education for me," Eddie said. "It allowed me to overcome financial barriers and to pursue my dreams. It has really been a blessing to me and my family."