After some foster children were notified they would not receive a state-supported scholarship to attend college, a Mississippi nonprofit has stepped in to ensure applicants for the most recent cycle receive funding to pursue higher education.
A handful of lawmakers joined Woodward Hines Education Foundation President and CEO Jim McHale at the state capitol on Wednesday to announce the organization would provide $800,000 to the State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship program.
Woodward Hines is a nonprofit that works to expand access to education and postsecondary training for Mississippians through student support, research, grants, and partnerships.
“As someone who experienced institutional care, this scholarship is deeply personal to me,” said Kinkade, a Republican from Byhalia who authored the legislation creating the scholarship in 2022. “These students deserve to know they are not alone. I am grateful to Woodward Hines, our colleges and universities, legislators, and every Mississippian for helping them pursue a better future.”
The one-time contribution comes after the number of qualifying students exceeded the amount appropriated to the program during the most recent legislative session. The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid notified approximately 170 applicants last week that they would be receiving scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. According to Kinkade, approximately 130 other applicants had been notified that they would be receiving the scholarship through state funding.
FAITH scholarships are available to eligible current and former foster youth attending approved Mississippi colleges and universities. After Pell Grants and other financial aid are applied, the scholarship helps cover remaining expenses, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and transportation.
While McHale believes it is part of the foundation’s “responsibility” to step in and help foster youth trying to get a college degree, he encouraged lawmakers to make funding the program a priority in future academic years.
“Philanthropy cannot replace the important role of sustained public investment in student financial aid, but when students face an immediate barrier, we have a responsibility to help find a way forward,” McHale said.
“[Woodward Hines] is proud to provide short-term support for eligible FAITH Scholarship students this fall and looks forward to continuing to partner with legislators, colleges and universities, and other stakeholders on long-term solutions that expand opportunity for Mississippi students,” he continued.
Without the donation, this would have been the first year since the program’s creation that eligible students did not receive scholarships. McHale added that information will be posted on the Woodward Hines website Friday for individuals, businesses, and foundations interested in contributing to the FAITH scholarship program.
State Sen. Nicole Boyd, a Republican from Oxford who chairs the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, said Mississippi colleges and universities are also working directly with students who have experienced foster care to identify additional scholarship opportunities and other resources.
Students who received a notification regarding the FAITH scholarships should contact the financial aid office at the college or university they plan to attend. Financial aid professionals can review available federal, state, institutional, and emergency resources and help determine the next steps for enrollment.
“We are grateful to Woodward Hines for stepping forward to help these students continue their educational journey,” Boyd said. “Mississippians believe in investing in opportunity, and this partnership demonstrates what can happen when legislators, institutions, and private partners work together to support students.”
