Equitable Excellence® Scholarship Application Cycle Opens
Annual scholarship program reinforces company’s commitment to expanding college access
October 20, 2023
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NEW YORK - October 20, 2023 - Equitable, a leading financial services organization and principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), today announced the call for applications for its 2024 Equitable Excellence® Scholarship. The long-running annual scholarship program is open to high school seniors across the country, and it underscores the company’s belief in the societal benefits of expanding access to education.
Watch this brief video to learn more about the Equitable Excellence® Scholarship Program.
To support students throughout their academic journeys, Equitable will award 100 scholarships for $5,000 to recipients that will be renewed each academic year for four years, for a total of $20,000 per recipient. The company will also award 100 one-time $2,500 scholarships that can help students to underwrite immediate costs associated with higher education such as tuition, textbooks or fees. In addition, all scholarship recipients will be able to identify a teacher who has made a significant impact on their lives and Equitable will award the selected teachers with a $500 gift card to be used for classroom supplies.
The scholarship program, which first started in 2003, recognizes students who demonstrate courage in pursuing what’s possible, display strength in managing challenges and share wisdom with others. Awards are based on financial need, GPA and an essay, in which students are invited to share their future aspirations. Applications for the 2024 program are now being accepted online through December 18, 2023.
“Expanding access and affordability to educational opportunities is a key factor in social mobility to help positively change a person’s future,” said Nick Lane, President of Equitable. “For more than two decades, our Equitable Excellence® Scholarship Program has proudly helped over 7,000 students pursue postsecondary education opportunities with approximately $30 million awarded to deserving high school seniors.”
During last year’s scholarship cycle, 100% of Equitable Excellence® scholarships went to students with financial need, 70% went to Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) students and almost 55% went to first-generation college students.
Another component of the Equitable Excellence® Scholarship program is ongoing support provided by Equitable to help students during their first year of college, which includes mental wellness, resume, personal branding and career exploration workshops as well as peer networking opportunities and mentorship programs with the company’s employees and financial professionals.
“This is where our Equitable Excellence® Scholarship program really shines — in going beyond financial support to providing emotional support and professional development and career readiness opportunities that can help students more easily navigate college and prepare them for careers after they graduate,” said Jarian Kerekes, Head of Social Impact and Community Engagement at Equitable.
Equitable Excellence® is the flagship program of Equitable Foundation, the company’s charitable-giving arm. The scholarship program is supported through strategic partnerships between Equitable and Scholarship America, CommonApp and the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) to assist students who apply for the scholarship and are seeking resources to support the college application process.
Equitable regularly leads, supports, and engages in advocacy and philanthropic work focused on college attainment and career readiness through the Equitable Foundation as part of the company’s strategy to build stronger communities. For example, Equitable was recently the presenting sponsor at The National College Attainment Network’s 2023 annual conference on Oct. 16 – October 18 in Dallas, TX, where the company shared best practices and results from its FASFA engagement program.
To learn more about Equitable’s social impact work, please read Equitable’s 2022 ESG report.
About Equitable
Equitable, a principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH), has been one of America’s leading financial services providers since 1859. With the mission to help clients secure their financial well-being, Equitable provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families, and small businesses. Equitable has more than 8,000 employees and Equitable Advisors financial professionals and serves 2.8 million clients across the country. Please visit equitable.com for more information. Reference to the 1859 founding applies specifically and exclusively to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY).
