Apply Now for a Fall 2024 CEW+ Graduation Grant
The Fall 2024 CEW+ Graduation Grant Application Cycle is now open. Deadline is Friday, November 8, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Click here to learn more about the program, eligibility, and the application process.
In our mission toward financial empowerment, CEW+ has recognized the challenges students may navigate around managing educational costs as they complete their degree program. The CEW+ Graduation Grant Program provides one-time grants (up to $3500) covering student account charges to U-M Ann Arbor students experiencing an unexpected financial setback in the final term of their degree program. With these grant allocations, we aim to eliminate the financial barriers that may prevent a student from graduating.
Since the program was fully implemented in fall 2023, the Graduation Grant has made a significant impact on U-M students and the CEW+ community. Last year, 53 students received the grant, with an average disbursement of $1,942 per award. These relatively small grants make a big difference for recipients: they have alleviated financial burdens and enabled students to complete their degrees, ultimately contributing to a stronger university community.
One inspiring story from the Graduation Grant program is that of Kimberly Heumann, a recent alumna who received the grant during her final semester at U-M. Heumann’s journey to graduation was marked by perseverance and dedication. After completing her undergraduate degree in social work at Spring Harbor University, Heumann moved to Kentucky with her husband for graduate school. Eventually, they returned to Michigan, where Heumann became a stay-at-home mom to her three children.
Years later, Heumann decided to pursue her passion for environmental studies and enrolled in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). Balancing her role as a caregiver with her academic pursuits, Heumann faced significant challenges, including childcare expenses for her growing family and the demands of her coursework. The Graduation Grant provided the financial support she needed to cover childcare costs over the summer, allowing her to finish her education and look for a job without interruption.
“The Graduation Grant came at the perfect moment,” Heumann recalls. “It felt humbling and supportive to know that CEW+ was still there for me even as I was graduating.”
Since graduating, Heumann has embarked on an impactful career path. She completed an internship at the Matthei Botanical Gardens, where she gained valuable experience in environmental education. Currently, she is serving in an AmeriCorps position with the MI Healthy Climate Corps, partnering with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Heumann envisions a more healthy and sustainable future for us and for the planet.