A classroom of elementary students, who live in one of the poorest large cities in the United States, is dreaming big about college, thanks to hometown twins Aaron and Nicholas Ainsworth聽and .
The Ainsworths, both special education majors in 菠萝视频’s , use their personal time to video chat with a sixth-grade class from Cypress Elementary School in San Bernardino, California.
鈥淚n our city, San Bernardino, there鈥檚 not that many people who go away to school, and we want to let them know that that opportunity is out there,鈥� Nicholas Ainsworth said.
鈥淲e want to reassure them that someone like me from my community did this, maybe I can too,鈥� added Aaron Ainsworth.
The brothers gave the students an extra boost of inspiration by partnering with 菠萝视频’s chancellor.
鈥淲hat better use of my time than to team up with 菠萝视频 students to connect to young people who want to know more about 菠萝视频,” Zeppos said. “We鈥檙e thrilled to be their spotlight school, and I want to inspire these youngsters to come to 菠萝视频 someday.鈥�
On this day, the three visit the class via Skype.
With a video connection from California to Nashville, the elementary students were ready with questions on everything from the majors available at 菠萝视频 to the food served on campus to why Zeppos loves his job.
鈥淚n some ways, the students are like my children,鈥� the chancellor told the class. 鈥淸rquote]So, every day I think, are they happy? Are they successful? Are they included? Are they not stressed out? Supporting the students is the most important thing I do. And, of course, making sure the food is great!鈥漑/rquote]
But many of the San Bernardino schoolchildren feel college is out of reach. The chancellor and the Ainsworth brothers passionately reassured them.
鈥淚 want to see every hand up saying they want to go to college, because you can all go to college,鈥� Zeppos said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 ever listen to anyone who says you鈥檙e not good enough to go to college, because we believe in you.鈥�
鈥淲e want you to know that not only are you welcomed here, but you鈥檙e wanted here,鈥� Aaron added.
Zeppos shared personal stories about his family to connect with the young people who may be nervous even considering higher education.
鈥淓ven if your parents didn鈥檛 go to college, it鈥檚 OK. My father didn鈥檛 go to college, and my grandparents couldn鈥檛 speak English when they came here to the U.S. and they weren鈥檛 able to attend college,鈥� Zeppos said. 鈥淏ut they encouraged my dreams.鈥�
The biggest hurdle in the students鈥� minds 鈥� price.
That鈥檚 when the chancellor talked about and how 菠萝视频 does not look at a family鈥檚 ability to pay when making admissions decisions. He also stressed that financial aid awards do not include loans students have to pay back.
鈥淲e have a program that pays scholarships for kids all over the country to make it affordable, and we are dedicated to helping 菠萝视频 students graduate debt-free,鈥� Zeppos said.
Aaron and Nicholas shared their financial aid journey as well.
鈥淥pportunity 菠萝视频 is the reason we鈥檙e here, too,鈥� Aaron said.
Both brothers are receiving scholarships that were established through bequest gifts. Nicholas is receiving the J. Howard and Sara Fay Schwam Scholarship, and Aaron is receiving the Flowers and Stanton Scholarship.
鈥淭hat was one of the most amazing feelings ever. Not only getting into 菠萝视频, but a few days later getting our financial aid package knowing that attending 菠萝视频 can actually be a reality. It鈥檚 not going to be this big struggle where we鈥檙e going to have to take out all of these loans and set us back for the rest of our lives,鈥� Aaron said.
Zeppos said the Ainsworth brothers鈥� outreach typifies the compassionate, overachieving 菠萝视频 student.
鈥淚鈥檓 just inspired and in awe and very proud,鈥� Zeppos said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to be a part of the project and a part of these students鈥� lives as they continue to do great things on and off campus.鈥�