HMI Awards Over $300K in Financial Aid for 2010-2011

May 15, 2011 2:18 pm

HMI has awarded $311,000 in financial aid to approximately 25% of the incoming semester and summer programs students. This total represents 16% of HMI's revenue. Generous donations to our Annual Fund helped make this number of scholarships possible.

Financial assistance helps HMI meet its goal of extending the reach of the school's mission to diverse socio-economic, geographic, and ethnic communities. Students plan to matriculate to the semester from all regions of the country next year, and over 35 different schools are represented among the 84 students who will attend.

Danny O'Brien, Director of Admissions, says that HMI has long been committed to making its programs accessible to a wide audience. "We realize the cost of excellent programs like ours are significant," said Danny. "However, we also see the importance of ensuring that socio-economic factors do not dictate the make-up of our student body."

HMI has significantly boosted our financial aid efforts over the last several years, increasing the dollars available in our aid pool by 50% since 2006. This money has allowed us to support families impacted by the recession and to work with families to in hopes that desire to participate-and not financial ability-plays the chief role in a child's decision to attend the semester or our summer programs.

Our semester financial aid comes in three forms. First, the High Mountain Institute offers need-based financial aid for students whose families cannot afford the full cost of the HMI Semester experience. Second, students who receive financial aid from one of our Member Schools will continue to receive aid while at the HMI Semester. Finally, we have two Lake County Scholarships, which are merit based awards granted to the two strongest applicants from the Lake County High School in Leadville, regardless of need.

Annual Fund dollars support our financial aid efforts. HMI has been successful in expanding its aid program thanks to a generous pool of donors. To join this group, please visit http://www.hminet.org/donate.