When Mike Scott, director of scholarships and student financial aid, heard that the mother of a current student wanted to see him as soon as possible, he braced himself. When she walked in his office and curtly told him to “stand up,” he was even more concerned.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but she walked over and hugged me,” Scott says, noting that his office had found the daughter additional scholarship money that allowed the girl to stay another semester. “We’d helped her avoid having the conversation no parent wants to have — telling their child they can’t afford to pay for college.”

As the nation slides into recession, more families are grappling with the financial fallout of layoffs, home foreclosure and even bankruptcy. Scott and his staff are on the frontlines, helping students find a way to stay in school.

His office will administer $150 million in financial aid this year, including scholarships, grants and loans. Much of it comes directly from the university, which increased institutionally funded financial aid to $73 million this year, in part to help students affected by the economic downturn.

Scott credits Brian Gutierrez, vice chancellor for finance and administration, and Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr., for increasing the university’s commitment to financial aid.

“Brian in particular made it his personal mission to increase the financial aid budget,” Scott said. “His staff did an incredible job of working within the budget parameters to designate as much as they could.”

The additional funding is crucial for many this year as the university works to meet the additional need.

The majority of TCU students — about 75 percent — get some form of financial aid during their four years on campus — from scholarships to loans to work-study gigs.

The links below are the stories of five students who credit the office of scholarships and financial aid for helping them realize their dream of a TCU diploma.

Related stories:
Economic Realities
Faces of Financial Aid
Eddie Marie Toines-Nobles
Katey Rudd
Floyd Hernandez III
Holly Amerson
Colton Blake