COUNTRIES are represented in the Presidenl 's Council. 36 STATES are re/nesented in the President ·s Council. 830 FAMILIES ntake-up the President's Council - a 1,2-10% growth since its establishment in 1965 when 67 families initial!;•pledged support. 3,000 STUDENTS in 2016 were offered academic scholarships thanks lo the generosity of the President's Council. 21,000,000 DOLLARS worth of scholarships were awarded to undergraduate students b)' the President·s Council in 2016. According to Bryan Burks, vice president of advancement, H arding's President's Council aided in the affordability of attending H arding. The President's Council awarded $27 million in scholarships in 2015 to about 80% ofHarding's full-time undergraduate students. "This helps students come to H arding," Burks said. "\\'hen they get that academic scholarship, they're comparing us to other schools. This gives them the opportunity to experience Harding." The President's Council specifically funded the "unfunded scholarships," which included academic scholarships, National Merit scholarships and others similar LO those, according to Burks. "ln today's philanthropy, most people want to give to specific purpose , which means the unrestricted gift is the most difficult gift to obtain," Burks said. "Therefore, the President's Council is a wonderfu l way of providing unrestricted gifts, \vhich helps us do what ·we need to do [by] providing scholarships for our students." According to senior Anna \\'inchester, who was asked to speak to the President's Council in 2014, many Harding students were able to attend Information courtesy of the Ojjice of Advancement Harding because of these scholarships. "I presented in front of the entire President's Council and it was cool to talk to them, because, although I was very nervous, there was quite a reaction afterward," \ \'inchester said. "I had a few people come up to me after - one lady in tears - thanking me for my words and saying that such a desire for Christian education is why they fund students." Allowing alumni to get involved in giving ,va another aspect of the President's Council, Emily Smith, advancement program coordinator, said. "It gi\·es an opportunity for our alumni to become involved on different levels and to give to something specific," Smith said. According to Burks, alumni giving back to the school showed a devoted spirit. "It shows people are loyal to Harding and want Lo giYe on an annual basis,'' Burks said. " To matter the amount, it shows loyalty and it shows trust. It shows that the alumni want Harding to be successful." Harding was greatly impacted by both the generous donors who give and the President's Council who serves the student body. Photo by Julia Reinbold!
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