The Conrad Prebys Foundation funds NU scholarships for adult learners who have demonstrated perseverance in seeking their degrees while making positive contributions to the community.
SAN DIEGO (May 3, 2022) – The nonprofit National University (NU), which has a 50-year track record of educating adult learners, mostly Veterans and nontraditional students, has received a $200,000 grant from San Diego-based The Conrad Prebys Foundation to support local students who are returning to school to obtain or advance their degrees as part of the National University Scholars Program.
“We are honored to receive support from The Conrad Prebys Foundation to advance academic opportunities for adult learners in our community,” said Randy C. Frisch, interim president of National University. “The public service made possible by the Foundation’s philanthropy has an incredible impact on our community – and that impact will be magnified and expanded by the work of our graduates as they go out into the world and make meaningful contributions to society.”
This is the second year in a row that The Conrad Prebys Foundation has made a substantial grant to the program, which offers high-impact experiences to students who demonstrate potential for extraordinary achievement and contribution to society. The grant will provide scholarships to individual students from the San Diego region. The Foundation is widely celebrated for its support in areas such as visual and performing arts, higher education, medical research, health care, and youth development.
“We continue to be inspired by Conrad, who was adamant that his own 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 a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, NU offers various degree pathways and resources to increase educational completion and 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. 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.
“The Conrad Prebys Foundation scholarship has allowed me to keep my head above water while attending nursing school at NU,” said NU Scholar Eva Muollo. “I decided to become a nurse because I wanted to work in public health and serve those struggling with mental health and addiction in San Diego. Because of this scholarship, I can devote my time to those who need it most, in addition to focusing on my nursing studies.”
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 maintain an average GPA higher than 3.7 in their undergraduate and graduate programs. NU Scholars offers both a scholarship to each student accepted into the program and personalized support to ensure they reach 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 and increasing accessibility through full-tuition scholarships; and to advance NU Scholars as ambassadors and role models in our community, creating a pathway for adult learners into the program.
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 on-campus programs and flexible four-week classes designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to over 30,000 students and 185,000 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.