BOSTON and READING, Pa., May 12,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alvernia University and Santander Bank, N.A. announced today a
philanthropic agreement where the Bank's Santander Universities
will support three academic programs at the university. The
programs are focused on preparing high school students and incoming
freshmen for college and offering scholarships to students who
participate in a college readiness curriculum.
"Education is a powerful tool that enables students to succeed
in the classroom and in their future endeavors," said John A. Allen, Santander region president for
Western Pennsylvania. "By
investing in these programs at Alvernia, we can play a meaningful
role in contributing to the academic achievements of the students
who participate in them."
Santander will fund the Summer Bridge program that supports
Reading, PA students who have
recently been accepted into the Reading Collegiate Scholars program
at Alvernia. During the Summer Bridge program, students will come
together to prepare for the start of their college career. They
will participate in team building exercises and leadership
training, and will also have access to self-assessment tests to
help ensure they are ready for a rewarding college experience.
The College Readiness and Success Program is designed to prepare
more than 100 high school students for college each year. With
support from Santander, tutors from Alvernia will work with
students to help improve their grades. In addition to academics,
tutors will assist students with their college searches, campus
visits, and the college application process. All participants who
graduate from high school and successfully complete the program are
guaranteed admission to Alvernia.
Santander will also support the Reading Collegiate Scholars
program launched by Alvernia last year. Up to 20 full-tuition
scholarships will be awarded annually to students who successfully
complete the College Readiness and Success program.
"Put simply, we want these young people to succeed, and we aim
to make this happen, through partnerships with organizations like
Santander," said Alvernia President Thomas
F. Flynn. "We believe that the Reading Collegiate Scholars
program can become a national model for how mid-sized cities can
foster college success for local lower income students through the
combined efforts of higher education, business and civic leaders,
and youth services organizations. The commitment is large but the
potential to change lives is even greater. And the return on
investment for our community is unmatchable."
About Us
ALVERNIA is a thriving university that empowers
students through real-world learning to discover their passion for
life, while providing the education to turn what they love into
lifetimes of career success and personal fulfillment, helping them
make the world a better place. Situated on a scenic 121-acre
suburban campus in historic Berks County,
Pa., the university of more than 3,000 students is
conveniently located near Philadelphia (60 miles) and within an easy
drive of New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. With a College of Arts and
Sciences and College of Professional
Studies, Alvernia today offers more than 50 undergraduate
majors and minors and a range of graduate programs at the master's
and doctoral levels through its School of Graduate and Adult
Education. Satellite sites are located in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County. As
one of only 22 Franciscan institutions in the country,
Alvernia's focus on caring for each other, the environment and
the community are joined with a challenging educational experience
to provide an unparalleled environment to grow, develop and mature
as a person and professional.
Santander Bank, N.A. is
one of the largest retail banks in the
United States by deposits. Its main corporate offices
are in Boston and it operates
principally in Connecticut,
Delaware, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Santander's 9,703 employees
serve its 1.8 million customers through the Bank's 703 branches,
2,092 ATMs, call centers, website and mobile app. Supervised by the
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and a member of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Santander in the United States is a wholly-owned,
financially autonomous subsidiary of Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN), a
global commercial and retail bank. For more information about
Santander, visit www.santanderbank.com or call 877-768-2265.
Santander Universities was founded in 1996 to advance the
Santander Group's commitment to its communities by supporting
higher education. It provides funding for teaching and research,
international cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer,
entrepreneurial initiatives, student exchange and innovation. It
maintains more than 1,100 agreements with universities and research
centers worldwide, including 35 in the
United States through Santander
Bank. Since 1996, Santander Universities has provided
funding for 4,100 university projects globally. Every year in
the United States, Santander
Universities funds more than 1,000 scholarships and supports over
70 initiatives. For more information about Santander Universities,
visit www.santanderbank.com/us/universities.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Carey
Manzolillo
Alvernia University Associate Director of Communications
carey.manzolillo@alvernia.edu
610.796.8281
Nancy Orlando
Santander Media Relations Manager
nancy.orlando@santander.us
617.757.5765
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SOURCE Santander Bank, N.A.