Cal Poly Humboldt Triples Scholarships in 10 Years

When Daphne Cheney started college as a Fisheries Biology major, a scholarship meant she didn't have to work her first semester. Instead, she could focus on labs, lectures, and figuring out her future.

"There's someone who was willing to put their hard-earned money towards my education when they don't know me," Cheney says. "It feels like yet another reason to graduate and to do the things that I want to do."

She's one of 923 Cal Poly Humboldt students who received donor-funded scholarships during the 2024-25 academic year. That's triple the 307 scholarships awarded in 2015, a surge driven by community generosity and the school's Boldly Rising Campaign, which raised nearly $60 million.

In just the past year, donors contributed more than $2.5 million in new endowments. That translates to over $1.2 million more in scholarship money going directly to students.

The awards range from $500 to $7,000 annually and target areas donors care about most: future teachers, business leaders, student athletes, and emerging researchers. Alumni like Daniel Walker and David Finkelstein have created named scholarships that will support students for generations.

For many students, these scholarships make the difference between enrolling in college or not attending at all. Research shows that each additional $1,000 in scholarship aid increases enrollment likelihood by 2 to 3 percentage points and boosts retention by 1 to 2 percentage points.

Peggy Metzger, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, sees scholarships as more than money. "Awarding a scholarship to a student says to them, 'We believe in you,'" she explains.

That belief matters especially for first-generation college students, those from rural communities, and transfer students who make up a significant portion of Humboldt's student body. With less financial stress, they work fewer hours and spend more time in classrooms, labs, and fieldwork.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends far beyond individual students. Recipients graduate on time more often, take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities, and enter careers ready to make a difference. Named endowments like the Marie Jacobs Liebau Endowed Scholarship for Teaching and the Jim Yates Business Endowed Scholarship Fund ensure this support continues for decades.

Financial challenges remain one of the leading reasons students drop out before completing degrees. But every new scholarship changes that equation, turning applications into enrollments and enrollments into graduates.

"You are making it so I can be here and try new things, and it's completely life-changing," Cheney tells donors. For 923 students this year, that life-changing support became reality.