St. Vladimir’s Seminary reports doubling of Tuition Matching Grants
Parishes, dioceses, autocephalous churches, church organizations, and individual clergy and hierarchs have stepped up to help us keep our seminarians debt free,” said Archpriest Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here, as he explained the “explosion” in tuition aid during the past two years, made available through the seminary’s “Tuition Matching Grant Program.”
“In 2012, our seminary inaugurated its ‘Fully-Paid Tuition Plan,’” he noted. “At that time, Saint Vladimir’s made a commitment to pay 50% of tuition for students who meet the need-based criteria set by the seminary, plus up to 25% more of a qualifying student’s tuition if that student could find matching funds from a church-related entity to cover another 25%, possibly making their education 100% tuition free.
“I’m thrilled to report that from 2012 to 2013, the 25% matching support from outside sources nearly doubled, from $56,779 in 2013 to $104,576 in 2014,” Father Chad stated. “And this academic year, if spring semester support continues like fall semester support, which already stands at $55,539, these sources will contribute over $110,000 in cash to our seminarians—$5,000 more in matching funds than the last academic year!
“All of this support has made it possible for many of our students — men and women—to attend seminary 100% tuition free, or nearly tuition free,” he concluded. “Church bodies are supplying 25% of a student’s tuition, and we must remember that our regular donors faithfully continue to help the seminary supply the other 75%, which represents the real cost of tuition the seminary needs to cover.”
Overall, the “Tuition Matching Grant Program” has helped 24 men and three women in 2013; 31 men and six women in 2014; and 26 men and three women in 2015, reported the Associate Chancellor for Finance at Saint Vladimir’s, Melanie Ringa. “I admire the commitment from so many church bodies and people to aid our seminarians,” she said, “and, I admire the seminary’s commitment as well, and our donors on the other side of this equation.”
“In 2012, prior to the start of the ‘Fully Paid Tuition Plan’ supported by the ‘Tuition Matching Grant Program,’ our school offered $180,245 in scholarship awards; the next year, after the start of the new plan and program, that figure went up to $296,769, and it just keeps rising,” she continued.
“Moreover, outside sources, which include a variety of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christian jurisdictions and churches, as well as the Orthodox Church in America [OCA], have taken a deep interest in providing for our students,” she noted. “In 2014, student financial aid from all sources, including the seminary, totaled $505,921, and that’s significant.”
Students agree. Olga Kirilchenko, a second-year seminarian in the Master of Arts program who receives her matching funds from Holy Noble-Born Prince Alexander Nevsky Church in Moscow, Russia, reminisced, “When I first heard about Saint Vladimir’s grants, I literally couldn’t believe my ears. I even had to ask the Director of Admissions, Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak (with whom I was on the phone), to repeat what he had just said, and he probably attributed it to my being a non-native English-speaker!
“First he told me that I was entitled to a 50% tuition discount simply for not being a millionaire… and while I was still trying to wrap my brain around that, he said that if my parish or diocese would pay 25% for me, then Saint Vladimir’s would cover another 25% of my tuition,“ Olga admitted. “The unexpected grant opportunity was one of the factors that helped turn my indecisive dream to study at Saint Vladimir’s into reality.
“I am exceedingly grateful to the seminary for making my hazy dream to study here possible,” she concluded, “and to my parish and my Father Confessor in Moscow, who supported me all the way via a recommendation letter, words of encouragement, and being so open to the matching grant opportunity.”
Closer to home, Tristan Gall, a senior student in the Master of Divinity program, expressed his gratitude to Saint Peter and Paul Church, Edinboro/Crossingville, PA, and to the OCA Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western PA. “If it weren’t for the Tuition Matching Program, and the support from my diocese and my home parish, it would be nearly impossible for me to attend seminary.
“I remember when I first heard about the plan,” he recalled. “I had been wondering how I would make ends meet. I was at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, PA, contemplating seminary, and Mother Magdalena came into the refectory and threw down a printout of the initiative taken by Saint Vladimir’s. She said, ‘Here’s your answer.’ I was struck with joy and almost immediately visited the seminary with my dad.”
“I’m overwhelmingly thankful to be here, and my heart overflows with gratitude to everyone who helps our cause at Saint Vladimir’s,” Tristan continued. “The encouragement and support from benefactors uplifts all of us spiritually. It’s comforting just knowing that there are people out there who care for Christ’s ministry.”
To find out more about the seminary’s Tuition Matching Grant Program or about studying at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, please contact Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).