Bekah Hildabrand, a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Bellarmine, was a single
mom when she decided which career path she wanted to pursue. But she was living in
an apartment, paying rent, making ends meet without much support. Finishing college
was going to be tough.
That鈥檚 when she connected with the , a local nonprofit that assists vulnerable individuals and families working to achieve
their educational and career goals. Her son is now 7 and she plans to graduate in
2024 and start work as a physical therapist in women鈥檚 health.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a great program, I cannot do what I'm doing without their support,鈥 she
said.
Bellarmine has forged a partnership with Family Scholar House to ensure students affiliated
with the organization, like Hildabrand, have a seamless enrollment pipeline to the
university and receive the financial, academic and social wrap-around services they
need to succeed.
All Family Scholar House students and employees will be eligible for financial aid
to minimize cost barriers. They may apply for Bellarmine鈥檚 many scholarship initiatives,
as well, like the Hope Kentucky Scholars Program, Public Price Promise and the Jefferson to Bellarmine 鈥2BU鈥 Transfer Program.
The new partnership also makes sure students currently enrolled at BU will have access
to all the services Family Scholar House provides. Zaria Lucas, a community outreach
coordinator with Family Scholar House, has dedicated weekly office hours on Bellarmine鈥檚
campus, where she can meet with students personally and connect them to resources
at the Family Scholar House or in the wider community.
These interventions can help students overcome challenges that might hinder them from
completing their studies.
鈥淩esearch and experience tell us that a student鈥檚 ability to persist through college
isn鈥檛 usually about academic ability; it鈥檚 about all the other things going on in
their lives,鈥 said Dr. Elizabeth Cassady, assistant vice president of career and community
engagement at Bellarmine. 鈥淭he needs of students are complex. Bellarmine is a microcosm
for the community around us, and we鈥檙e not immune to any of the community鈥檚 challenges.鈥
Lucas said she鈥檇 already met with several students who were having challenges with
food and financial insecurities, debt and unreliable transportation.
鈥淪ometimes they have personal things that come about that hinder them from being able
to make it to class,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had professors reach out and say, 鈥榊ou know,
I鈥檓 kind of worried about them; they haven鈥檛 been in class.鈥 So, my job is about asking,
鈥榃hat do you need? What鈥檚 hindering you from being able to succeed?鈥 So, just having
those conversations and letting them know that Bellarmine is here for them, that there
are other organizations that are here to help them, too, and just making sure that
they know there are resources, and they don鈥檛 have to do it alone.鈥濃
Hildebrand lives with her son in the Family Scholar House鈥檚 affordable housing complex
near UofL鈥檚 Belknap campus. The organization has helped in other ways, too, like making
sure she knows about government assistance she might qualify for and financial literacy
education opportunities. And, she has access to the organization鈥檚 food pantry.
鈥淚鈥檝e felt so supported in my journey,鈥 Hildebrand said.
Cassady, who has served as a volunteer and board member for the Family Scholar House,
said the organization has impressive programs and outcomes and is thrilled the partnership
with Bellarmine has come to fruition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e dedicated to helping our students stay and complete their degree, no matter what challenges they鈥檙e facing,鈥 she said. 鈥淢utually beneficial relationships with community-based resources are crucial in getting students all the wrap-around supports they need beyond the support we provide on campus.鈥