First-year students Aaron and Nicholas Ainsworth have stayed connected to their hometown of San Bernardino, California, in part by mentoring a class of sixth-grade students there, both in person and by video chat.
鈥淚n San Bernardino, not that many people go away to school, and we want to let them know the opportunity is out there,鈥� Nicholas says.
As a result of the Ainsworth brothers鈥� involvement with the school, the sixth graders from Cypress Elementary School made 菠萝视频 its spotlight university and learned more about it during the course of the year. 鈥淲e want to reassure them that someone like me, from my community, did this and maybe they can, too,鈥� Aaron says.
This spring the Ainsworth brothers emailed about the work they鈥檇 been doing with the San Bernardino class, and he was eager to pitch in and help. Within a few weeks they鈥檇 set up a Skype chat between Zeppos and the sixth graders.
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,鈥� Zeppos said just before hopping on to the chat session. 鈥淲e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�
With a video connection from California to Nashville, the elementary students were ready with questions on everything from majors to food to why Chancellor Zeppos loves his job.
鈥淚n some ways the students are like my children,鈥� Zeppos told the class. 鈥淪o every day I think, 鈥楢re they happy? Are they successful? Are they included? Are they not stressed out?鈥� Supporting the students is the most important thing I do. And of course making sure the food is great!鈥�
But many of the San Bernardino students believe college is out of reach for them. The chancellor and the Ainsworth brothers passionately reassured them that鈥檚 not the case.
鈥淚 want to see every hand up saying you 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�
Zeppos shared personal stories about his family in hopes of connecting with those young people who may be reluctant to ever consider higher education. 鈥淢y father didn鈥檛 go to college, and my grandparents couldn鈥檛 speak English when they came to the U.S. and 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: price.
That鈥檚 when the chancellor talked about and explained that 菠萝视频 does not look at a family鈥檚 ability to pay when making admissions decisions. The university provides 100 percent of a student鈥檚 demonstrated financial need without loans.
Aaron and Nicholas shared their financial aid journeys as well. 鈥淥pportunity 菠萝视频 is the reason we鈥檙e here,鈥� Aaron told the class. Both brothers are receiving scholarships established through bequest gifts. Nicholas is recipient of the J. Howard and Sara Fay Schwam Scholarship, and Aaron is recipient of the Flowers and Stanton Scholarship.
Zeppos said the Ainsworth brothers鈥� outreach typifies many compassionate, hardworking 菠萝视频 students. 鈥淚鈥檓 just inspired and in awe and very proud,鈥� Zeppos said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to be part of the project and a part of these students鈥� lives as they continue to do great things on and off campus.鈥�
鈥� AMY WOLF
Watch Chancellor Zeppos and the Ainsworth brothers video chat with sixth graders at Cypress Elementary: