FUNDING THEIR FUTURES Dickinson Law Student Emergency Fund supports students in need, provides year-round assistance for COVID-related situations and other unexpected challenges Last year, Penn State Dickinson Law moved to a virtual class
The Student Emergency Fund has supported varied student
schedule amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Students logged on
needs. The pandemic forced several Dickinson Law students
from their electronic devices each day to attend classes.
to move suddenly, and the fund bridged gaps in their budgets
Bruce Hall ‘22 used an old laptop to participate. One day during
created by the financial stress of the unexpected relocation.
class, Hall’s laptop crashed. He was unable to get the computer
Dickinson Law students facing higher physical and mental health
to function again, and he was not sure what to do. As a full-
expenses from the pandemic used the emergency fund to pay for
time student, he had limited resources and lacked the funds to
medical appointment co-pays. The fund also covered situations
purchase a new laptop.
similar to Hall’s, when law students needed tools to implement
Hall reached out to Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Rebecca Schreiber and informed her of his dilemma. That is when he learned about the Dickinson Law Student Emergency Fund,
learn-from-home protocols, such as technology or office supplies they typically accessed on the Dickinson Law campus prior to the pandemic.
which offers cash grants and awards to help meet students’
Hall appreciates the generosity
basic needs.
behind the fund. “Full-time students do not have an income
Hall applied for emergency aid from the fund to purchase a
to rely on. They rely on the
new laptop, and within two weeks, he secured a new one to
resources of the school, family
use for class.
members, and, unfortunately, loans. Loans can pile up quickly.
Hall felt relieved to discover that safety net. “The application
Sources like this lighten the load
process was extremely easy,” said Hall. “All I did was reach out to
for students,” said Hall.
the director and accept the funds. Not long after, the funds were deposited into my account.” Amid the COVID-19 shutdown last spring, the fund provided relief for Dickinson Law students who lost work, supplementing their income to pay for rent, utilities, and food. One Dickinson Law student who graduated in 2020 learned about the fund as he searched for a job. He worried that the pandemic would impact his chances of finding employment and make it difficult to care for his family.
Bruce Hall ‘22
“It is because of donors that students with limited resources can continue to follow their dreams to become a defender of the rule of law,” said Hall.
“I was in the mid-final semester, and I was getting ready to secure employment after graduation. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit all
Alumni can make contributions to continue to support
aspects of our life, including the job market. I envisioned it would
students into the future. Gifts to the Dickinson Law Student
be hard to attach to the job market any time soon to take care
Emergency Fund can be made by visiting raise.psu.edu/
of my family. I, therefore, decided to apply for the aid,” said the
DickinsonLaw or by contacting Kelly Rimmer, director
recent graduate, who asked to remain anonymous.
of development and alumni affairs at Dickinson Law, at
Receiving the aid allowed him to think about other things besides how to meet his family’s basic needs. “No one knows how hard it is to focus on studies while facing financial hardship except a student who has encountered it,” said the recent graduate. “The aid gave me peace of mind and helped me focus on my studies.”
D I C K I N S O N L AW Y E R
krimmer@psu.edu.
