Admissions Spotlight

Admissions Spotlight Q&A with Carmel Catholic Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Consultant, Debbie Eppel

Q: How long have you been in Admissions at Carmel? A: This is my fifth year working in Admissions at Carmel. I am still enjoying it as much as ever!

Q: How many families are in need this year? A: For the 2020-21 school year, 360 students received aid. We are currently outpacing last year’s average at a rapid rate. Last year we had 45 incoming freshmen apply for a scholarship above and beyond our financial aid support. To date, we have 66 students currently applying and a month to go before the deadline.

Q: Are there some typical financial challenges that inhibit prospective families from attending Carmel? A: The pandemic has hit our community very hard. Parents have suffered job losses and a decrease in hours at all levels of income. We have had families that have applied for financial aid for the very first time.

Q: What emotions do you feel when a family finds the financial path to Carmel? A: I feel blessed being a Financial Aid Consultant. Coupling needs with support brings me great joy and immense satisfaction knowing that Carmel has helped change the trajectory for a student and his/ her whole family. You can see the stress melt away from a parent’s face when they receive financial support, knowing their child will have the opportunity to have a Carmel education.

Q: How does a donor change a student’s future by making a gift to support scholarships? A: The Carmel vision states that our community is a “haven for kindness, where virtue is our aspiration, purpose our quest, and opportunity abundant for all who seek to commit to our mission.” By making a gift, a donor is supporting a child so s/he can have such an opportunity.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share? A: There was an encounter I had with a student a while back that inspires me to continue helping students like her every day. One night I happened to find myself grabbing a late-night dinner from the drive-thru window of a local fast-food restaurant. When I pulled up to the window, I recognized the cashier as one of our students. When I mentioned that I hoped her work schedule wasn’t interfering with her studies, she shared her incredible story with me. She told me that she was currently working full time because she was paying 100% of her own tuition at Carmel. When I asked why, she reminded me that she had a freshman sister and there was no way her single mother could afford two tuition payments. It was important for this student to give her sister the same opportunities that her mother had provided her. I was blown away. I couldn’t stop thinking if my children would be so selfless. As I pulled away, she said goodnight and that she gave me her 10% discount. It breaks my heart to think other students like this young woman and her family need support.

Carmel Catholic awards more than $2 million in financial aid each year, yet many families are left wondering how they can afford a Carmel education. You can help by considering a gift to a Carmel scholarship fund.