New COVID Relief Grant to Aid Returning Students

April 6, 2021 | by the Office of Marketing and Communications

An aerial photograph of the Elmhurst University campus shows Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a financial, emotional and academic toll on many students and their families, Elmhurst University has created the COVID Relief Grant to support its current and returning students who have struggled as a result of the pandemic.

“Throughout this academic year, our students have shown an outstanding commitment to keeping our community healthy and safe while pursuing their education and navigating their lives,” said Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken. “But we know it hasn’t been easy, so we hope this grant will ease some of the stress on our students when they come back in the fall.”

The COVID Relief Grant is a renewable, stackable scholarship of up to $1,000 that may be awarded to Elmhurst undergraduates who indicate that they have been negatively affected by COVID-19. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time for the 2021 Fall Term. Applicants will be asked to write a brief essay describing the impact of the pandemic on their lives and the lives of their families. Once signed and submitted, applications will be reviewed and students will be notified about their eligibility within a few weeks. Eligible students will receive the grant in their 2021-22 financial aid package. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, April 30, 2021. Students with questions can contact Student Financial Services at sfs@elmhurst.edu or (630) 617-3015.

The COVID Relief Grant also has been made available to all incoming Elmhurst first-year and transfer students for the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 terms.

“The past year has been challenging and disruptive in many ways,” VanAken said. “But I hope all of our students know that while this situation is temporary, earning an Elmhurst University degree will benefit them for a lifetime.”

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