Colin Blake had decided to attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota before he ever heard about Saint Mary’s Catholic Educator Promise. Truthfully, he already had earned some impressive scholarships; his mom, Laurie, proudly and lovingly patted him on the back, calling him a bright student.
The fact that he’s eager to play on the Cardinal baseball team also played a considerable role in his decision making.
But THEN Laurie Blake heard about the life-changing initiative. Through this new donor-funded Catholic Educator Promise, the university is offering free tuition to qualifying dependent children of faculty and staff members employed by K-12 Catholic schools across Minnesota.
Eligible students will receive a “last dollar” grant that covers the remaining tuition costs for four years of study after all other scholarships and grants. It’s a way to support those who dedicate their lives to the formation of young minds in Catholic education.
Laurie Blake, who has worked as a paraprofessional at Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park, Minn., for the past seven years, said her family was “blown away.”
“It’s remarkable. It’s absolutely amazing. It didn’t seem real,” she said. “For these benefactors to truly believe and have such a strong faith in Catholic education to pass it on, I don’t know how we can say thank you, enough, truly.
“To make those sacrifices for those years, it’s tough, but it’s a decision that we as a family make, and I think we’d make it again, in our view.”
Laurie Blake primarily works in a kindergarten room with students of a wide range of skill levels. She also is one of two in charge of recess for the whole school, kindergarten through grade eight.
“We truly know every child’s name in the school,” she said. “They come flying outside after lunch with hugs. We talk to them every day. And you don’t get to do that at a lot of places. We genuinely care about the students. We love them. We get to know them over the years. And you grow with these kids, and you know these kids, and you watch them go through some major challenges in their lives and some great things in their lives, and their personalities grow, and my kids had that with teachers and administrators who have truly wanted them to succeed, to thrive, and have supported them. They wouldn’t get that at other schools. There’s a reason we chose this, and the reason that we sacrifice like we do as families, for the kids.”
Colin Blake, currently a senior at Totino-Grace, a high school in Fridley, Minn., nods as his mother speaks. After attending Catholic High School, he says it was important to continue his college education at a Catholic university. “It means something to be at a school where faith is part of your day,” he said. “Having that connection with our faith is a draw for me.”
Although he’s not sure what area he’ll major in for sure, he’s interested in data science and potentially pursuing a career in sports analytics but he knows college is where he’ll figure out which major he should pursue.
For now, he’s most excited about having the opportunity to play baseball at the next level, starting a whole new life experience, and moving onto campus.
“Campus is super cool; the buildings are really nice, and I especially liked the dorms,” he said. And, he’s thankful that the Catholic Educator Promise recognizes the work his mom does while giving him a helping hand with his educational goals.
“It’s definitely a big lift off of my shoulders for sure,” he said. “It’ll help me focus on my studies. I think it’s great what she does and how this will help me so much in my life.”
Along with the Catholic Educator Promise, Saint Mary’s has always prioritized making education attainable for students of all income levels. As a part of this goal, the university also supports the Cardinal Promise, a financial aid commitment for Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin residents that has long provided extremely generous financial packages to students of modest means, covering the cost of tuition for students with a family AGI under $80,000.
Learn more about Saint Mary’s Catholic Educator Promise and Cardinal Promise here.
