EQT Grant to Robinson Scholars Program Will Support Scholarships for Eastern Kentucky Students

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2015) — The Robinson Scholars Program at the University of Kentucky is pleased to announce the receipt of a $50,000 grant from the EQT Foundation to support scholarships for first generation students from eastern Kentucky.

“We are excited about EQT’s investment in Robinson Scholars,” said director Jeff Spradling. “EQT has been a significant corporate partner for our novel first generation program, and we are very honored by the Foundation’s continued investment in the promising students who participate in our program.”

The EQT Foundation is the philanthropic arm of EQT Corporation, an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, and transmission and operations in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The company employs more than 1,800 people, with an estimated economic impact exceeding $5 billion in 2014.

“The EQT Foundation is committed to supporting educational opportunities that better prepare students for rewarding and challenging careers,” said Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation Manager. “The partnership with the Robinson Scholars program has proven to be successful through the years by continuing to increase the number of first generation college students from eastern Kentucky, an area where EQT has numerous employees and operations.” 

During Robinson Scholars nearly 20-year history, the EQT Foundation has supported both summer camps for high school students and scholarships for college students at UK.  The newest grant will provide $5,000 renewable scholarships to UK for students who applied for but did not receive the full Robinson Scholarship. This award is called the Robinson Excellence Scholarship and made on the basis of extensive application scoring and a strong desire to attend the University of Kentucky.

Two students who receive this scholarship will be named EQT Excellence Scholars and will participate fully in the Robinson college sequence, which includes residence in the First Generation Living Learning Community and participation in activities such as community service, academic and cultural enrichment, and internship and work preparation. The grant from EQT will support 10 scholarships in the 2016-17 academic year.

“The ability to offer this scholarship money in our service region greatly enhances our long-term development model by allowing us to bring even more qualified first generation students to UK’s campus.

“Our high school students do a remarkable job of preparing for the demands of college-level work, but this is just a first step in their long-term success," Spradling said. Our staff very much believe that Robinson Scholars must make use of the many wonderful opportunities that an education at the state’s flagship university affords them."

“Among applicants for the Robinson Scholarship, we have seen scores incredibly close. Really, we believe that any student who completes our high school development program could be successful at UK, and our goal is to help them become students here,” Spradling said. “Through the generous support of partners such as the EQT Foundation, who are also committed to the success of eastern Kentucky’s young people, we are able to do more to improve college and career outcomes for first generation students.”

For more information about the Robinson Scholars Program and the EQT Foundation grant, contact Jeff Spradling at 859-257-5230 or jspra2@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Blair Hoover, (859) 257-6398; blair.hoover@uky.edu