Westfield State University Awarded $55,000 Grant from Davis Foundation

The Westfield State University Foundation has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation in support of the Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, Diversity (LEAD) Scholars Program.

Westfield State’s LEAD Scholars Program provides holistic services for students who self-identify as first-generation and demonstrate a financial need, with a special focus on increasing the representation of students who may have historically been excluded from the benefits of a college education.

By providing extra support throughout their college journey, the LEAD Scholars Program helps students overcome the challenges they face as they work to achieve their academic and personal goals, increasing retention and graduation rates. The investment by the Davis Foundation will change the trajectory of students’ lives and increase future possibilities for their families and communities.

Westfield State University’s Urban Education Program was established in 1968 to provide college orientation, mentoring, and academic advising to students of color. In 2023, Urban Education modernized its structure and name to become the Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, Diversity Scholars Program. This update honors the 55-year legacy and founding vision of the Urban Education Program while highlighting the university’s continuing commitment to implementing educational innovations that cultivate excellence in all students, recognize their achievements, and celebrate the diversity that enriches the campus community.