By J1 Reporter Erin Cramer

Walk-A-Thon spirit is established in every student from the moment they walk in the door on the very first day of school. The money received from countless hours of fundraising, going door to door, and other tactics go towards the general tuition fund at Marian, but what does that really mean? 

The general tuition fund goes toward aid for students at Marian who cannot afford the full tuition every year. This year, students raised more than $150,000 which will allow girls to have the Marian experience, despite whether they can afford it or not. 

The process in applying for tuition assistance is fairly straightforward, according to Junior MajieAhna Winfrey, “I just filled out an application through Facts Managing with a lot of tax information, which is a lot of adult stuff my mom handles. Every year I have to go through and update my information, and it automatically searches for the scholarships that I need.”

 In addition, enrolled students can receive aid depending on their scores on the placement test, which is taken by incoming freshmen in February. Whether it be through scholarship or tuition assistance, every year, Marian provides over two million dollars in tuition assistance to over half of its student body. 

Winfrey said, “ I am not judged for being on tuition assistance because a lot of girls also receive assistance at Marian.” 

However, tuition assistance also proves to have challenges that come with it, especially as enrollment numbers rise at Marian. “ The past couple years, my mom has only ever had to pay $400 in tuition because of how much aid I receive. But since tuition keeps increasing and more girls keep enrolling into Marian, the money has to be spread a little thinner. This year, my mom had over a $3,000 bill,” Winfrey said. After Winfrey discovered this, she looked upon herself to cover the bill. She found an anonymous donor who was willing to donate to the rest of her tuition for the year. 

Just like Winfrey found an anonymous donor, there are many resources available to find the funds to make sure that those who want a Marian education can receive it. But since the student body is gaining size, so must the Walk-A-Thon efforts. Our administration wants us to keep in mind the true spirit of WAT – helping our sisters out, so they can too dream big.

Students who want a Marian education most likely have large aspirations and know that Marian will help them achieve their goals. Winfrey describes, “ Marian is a really good school, just in general across the nation, and wanting to get into a prestigious law school would be very difficult without going to Marian. Having a public school on your application versus having Marian is a drastic difference, so getting the aid allows for me to be able to have that privilege.”

Whether you want to be a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, or anything else, Marian is there for you and your goals. The money students raise for Walk-A-Thon helps our classmates and sisters receive a one-of-a-kind education and dare to dream big.