Contact:
Ellen Fleming
University Advancement
617-287-5327
J. Keith Motley Scholarship
As a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Upward Bound, Chancellor Motley exemplifies the tremendous social promise of talent development programs. When colleagues, friends, and family wanted to celebrate Motley's inauguration in a lasting manner, they opted to establish the J. Keith Motley Scholarship to fulfill the chancellor's greatest hope that all students, no matter what their financial circumstances, be able to benefit from the teaching, research, and public service offerings of UMass Boston.
The Motley Scholarship provides current-use scholarship support for students who are alumni of Urban Scholars or another UMass Boston pre-collegiate program. These programs, which serve more than 2,000 Boston-area students per year, have helped more than 85 percent of their graduates go on to college, as against 53 percent of Boston Public School students as a whole who do so.
In a January 2009 Boston Globe editorial, 'Persistence rate' shows Boston students do succeed in college, Chancellor Motley shares his perspective on how Boston Public School students, many of whom must overcome substantial obstacles, persist in their pursuit of a college degree beyond a standard time frame.
Your participation in Talent for Tomorrow: An Urban Scholars and J. Keith Motley Celebration, through attending our event on May 2 or by making a gift, will strengthen the educational environemnt needed to foster the "persistence" of Boston's best and brightest students in pursuing a successful path from middle school to college graduation.