As a senior at the University of Maryland, David was excelling academically and socially. He was on the Dean’s list, leader of two campus organizations, a US Army Research Lab intern, and about to receive his Electrical Engineering degree. Yet, despite all of his academic accomplishments, a daunting medical issue and the financial impact of an impending medical bill threatened David's dreams of graduating.
Paying for his much needed surgery seemed impossible and David decided to postpone the procedure due to finances. David worried about his health, maintaining his grades and finding time for an extra job to help minimize his medical debt. Fear that the surgery could stop him from attending classes and extracurricular activities also weighed heavy on him.
It's an unfortunate reality that many students face - having to make a choice between things like medical expenses, food, transportation, or tuition. These are the kinds of challenges that can force students off track, sometimes causing them to take a semester off or leave school entirely. But, because of the Central Scholarship Student Emergency Fund, David's story had a different ending.
Thankfully, David was able to schedule his surgery over the summer, take time to heal and recover, and stay on track for graduation without the added pressure of finding a way to pay for a hefty medical bill.
Don't let a temporary and minor financial setback derail or dead-end a student's promising future.
This #GivingTuesday, you can help students like David get through unexpected emergencies and stay on track to reach their academic dreams. Make your gift to the Central Scholarship Student Emergency Fund Today!