ABINGTON, Pa. — The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust awarded a combined grant of $103,000 for student scholarships to Penn State Abington and Penn State Brandywine. The grant award builds on a history of funding to Penn State totaling almost $5 million since 1984.

Scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 each will be available to qualified full-time Abington and Brandywine students with unmet financial need who are residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties or Camden, New Jersey. The $103,000 total will be split evenly between the two campuses, and the scholarships will be awarded to students in the 2018-19 academic year.

This is the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust’s first scholarship grant to Abington; however, the organization has supported Brandywine students for nearly 27 years and was recently presented the Community Partner Award at Brandywine’s 50th Anniversary Gala for its long-term partnership, philanthropy and support of the campus.

“We are encouraged by Penn State's continued efforts to make quality undergraduate education both affordable and accessible for students enrolled at the Brandywine and Abington campuses. In addition to recent investments to expand academic offerings and facilities, both campuses have allocated funds for social support resources such as food cupboards and social work personnel to help students overcome economic barriers that may otherwise interrupt their educational pursuits,” said Brian Jones, grant administrator at the trust.

“Penn State’s thoughtful and comprehensive approach to student success is greatly aligned with the W. W. Smith's mission, and we are pleased to continue this partnership.”

The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation established by William Wikoff Smith in 1977. The trust makes grants in the Greater Philadelphia region to support basic needs; college scholarships; maritime heritage preservation; and medical research primarily in heart disease, cancer and AIDS.

“Scholarships from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust assist us in ensuring that students with the most financial need receive the resources necessary to earn a Penn State degree,” Abington Chancellor Damian J. Fernandez said.

“For many years, the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust has been an invaluable partner with Brandywine in giving access to a college education to students who might not otherwise be able to afford it,” Brandywine Chancellor Kristin Woolever added.

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With nearly 4,000 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 19 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.

Penn State Brandywine is a residential campus located on 112 acres in Middletown Township, Delaware County, with an enrollment of about 1,400 students. The campus offers 12 baccalaureate degrees, two associate degrees, and the first two years of more than 150 additional baccalaureate degrees that can be completed at another Penn State campus. In addition, the campus offers internships, undergraduate research opportunities, international study programs, and varsity sports.