Since its founding in 1884, Temple has been committed to making higher education accessible for talented students regardless of financial means or status in life. It’s a commitment rooted in the belief that economic circumstances should not prevent students from achieving their dream of a college education.

As part of this continued commitment, Temple has launched an ambitious three-year initiative to raise $125 million in direct scholarship support. Through Made for More: Prioritizing Scholarships at Temple, the university aims to make a Temple education more affordable for current and future students and raise awareness about the importance of scholarship giving.

“The number one reason applicants choose not to attend Temple is cost. With more than 62% of our undergraduate students qualifying for need-based scholarships or grant aid, the need for elevated scholarship support has never been greater,” said Mary Burke, vice president for institutional advancement. “This scholarship initiative will open doors to opportunity for so many students—students who will go on to reimagine their industries and make a difference in their communities.”

The announcement of Made for More comes just two months after Temple introduced another initiative designed to help make Temple more affordable for qualifying students: Temple Promise. A financial aid grant program, Temple Promise is intended to help close the tuition gap for Philadelphia County residents whose families earn $65,000 or less in adjusted gross income.

By alleviating financial stress, scholarships help students concentrate on their coursework and make the most of their education. Criminal justice major Justin Allen had been working two part-time jobs after classes and on weekends to pay his tuition and was planning to take one or two semesters off before he got the news that a scholarship would allow him to stay in school. 

“Thanks to this scholarship, I will be able to successfully afford and attend the fall and spring semesters and stay on track,” Allen said. “It allowed me to reduce my work schedule and focus more on my studies.”

Similarly, a scholarship from the Alwin family enabled Fox student Emily Katherine Lewis to take advantage of an internship opportunity with Paramount Pictures in New York City three days a week. “Receiving this scholarship greatly reduced the financial burden of tuition on me and my family,” she said. “It allowed me to focus more on the education I was receiving than the cost.” 

As part of the Made for More initiative, John R. Duda, MED ’74, recently made a $1 million gift to establish an endowed scholarship in honor of his mother and father. Together, they survived the Holocaust and escaped Soviet-occupied Poland, immigrating as displaced persons to America in 1950. Through their sacrifice and hard work in facing adversity and discrimination, they opened avenues of opportunity for Duda to eventually attend the Katz School of Medicine.

“What better way to honor them,” Duda said, “than through an endowment that will, in perpetuity, open those same doors of opportunity to generations of future capable students who have also overcome challenging obstacles to reach their dream of becoming a physician.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, all scholarship gifts given across Temple will be counted toward Made for More. This includes gifts to the Temple General Scholarship Fund, as well as school/college/unit-specific scholarship designations. Donors can choose to give to any scholarship fund that exists at Temple and their gift will be counted toward the $125M goal. And as an added incentive, the university is offering a match component for select endowed scholarships of $50K and over. 

“Scholarship support is an opportunity to invest in the next generation of Owls, the leaders and innovators who will elevate Temple’s reputation as a national leader in academics,” said Burke.

Learn more about supporting Temple students through Made for More.