The grant is part of the inaugural awards from The Conrad Prebys Foundation.
LA JOLLA, CALIF. (March 24, 2021) — The nonprofit National University (NU), which is celebrating its 50th year of educating adult learners, including Veterans and career professionals, received a $250,000 grant from the San Diego-based Conrad Prebys Foundation. The funds will support local students who are returning to school to obtain or advance their degree as part of the National University Scholars Program.
The $250,000 grant is part of the inaugural awards from The Conrad Prebys Foundation, an organization continuing the philanthropic legacy of Conrad Prebys.
“We are honored to receive support from The Conrad Prebys Foundation to advance academic opportunities for adult learners in our community,” said Dr. David Andrews, National University President. “As a philanthropist and entrepreneur, Mr. Prebys remains a pillar of the San Diego community; his legacy of public service and philanthropy align with the foundation of National University and inspire all of us to do more in service of others.”
A prominent figure in the San Diego community, Prebys is widely celebrated for his support in areas such as visual and performing arts, higher education, medical research, health care, youth development and animal conservation. In 2015, National University recognized Prebys’ dedication to nonprofit and philanthropic causes by naming him Humanitarian of the Year.
“Conrad was adamant that his education was a catalyst for many of the successes in his life,” said Tony Cortes, board chair of The Conrad Prebys Foundation. “He would be ecstatic to see the foundation supporting organizations that inspire a love of learning and promote advancement opportunities within our region.”
As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, with an average student age of 33 and as designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (ANAPISI), NU offers various degree pathways and resources to increase educational completion and student success among nontraditional learners.
To further support determined students who persevere to reach their educational and career goals, National University launched the NU Scholars Program in 2017. The program offers high-impact experiences to students who demonstrate potential for extraordinary achievement and contribution to society. NU provides personalized, support, and educational opportunities by leveraging the latest in adaptive and interactive technologies and tailoring academic models to individual student needs, the goal is to reinforce and advance student support and success.
“My journey as a student at National University has shown me that I’m capable of much more than I ever thought possible,” said Whitney Harbison, NU Scholar and recipient of a Bachelor of Science in nursing. “With an emphasis on professional development, research, and community service, the NU Scholars program empowers students to make a meaningful impact on our local communities.”
NU Scholars are primarily first-generation college students, parents, Veterans, immigrants, and refugees, and many are first-generation American citizens. Despite obstacles associated with these demographics, NU Scholars have an average GPA of over 3.7 in their undergraduate and graduate programs. NU Scholars offers both the scholarship and personalized support to ensure each student reaches their goals.
Within this framework of personalization, NU Scholars’ vision is twofold: to increase its San Diego presence by reaching diverse nonprofits with its community service projects of volunteering, donation drives, and otherwise giving back; and to serve as a testing ground to see which NU student supports and interventions are most effective in increasing student success.
To learn more about the NU Scholars Program, visit scholars.nu.edu.
About National University
National University, a Veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults by providing accessible, affordable, achievable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, NU offers over 75 online and in-person programs and flexible four-week courses designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to over 25,000 students and 180,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. Learn more at NU.edu.
About The Conrad Prebys Foundation
The Conrad Prebys Foundation was established by real estate entrepreneur Conrad Prebys to perpetuate his commitment to philanthropic endeavors. The Conrad Prebys Foundation inspires transformational change by funding projects in alignment with Conrad Prebys’ legacy interests and continuing his efforts that spark meaningful advancement in our communities. For more information, visit ConradPrebysFoundation.org.