Introducing the GPS Black Alumnae Council

By Lucy Blancett Introducing the GPS Black Alumnae Council

IN THE FALL OF 2020, Black GPS alumnae came together to form the Black Alumnae Council (BAC) Steering Committee, which serves to connect alumnae and students with shared experiences and to continue building a welcoming and supportive GPS campus community.

In April, after months of discussion to determine the purpose and goals of the group, BAC launched its first initiative: the GPS Black Alumnae Council Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship would provide tuition assistance to a current or incoming Black GPS student(s).

With the support and backing of the GPS community, BAC set a goal of $50,000 over three years to fund the scholarship. At this level, the fund would generate income in perpetuity to be used for financial aid for Black GPS girls and would continue to grow in value over time and support Black GPS students for decades to come.

To kick off fundraising, BAC gathered on campus for a phone-a-thon, where their efforts raised $10,000 in only two hours. The funding opportunity was also part of the Our Girls | Our GPS Week of Giving. Before July, the scholarship was fully funded with more than $50,000 in pledges and donations, and it continues to grow. Chief Development Officer Ali Gant said, “We saw parents, grandparents, alumnae, faculty, and staff really support this initiative. People communicate their passions through their giving, and our community wants GPS to be a place of belonging and where Black girls can thrive.”

This scholarship will be added to the current portfolio of more than 80 endowed scholarships that help GPS annually fund $3.5M in financial aid awards. Other funding sources for financial aid include the annual operating Impact Fund and special initiatives like the GPS Bridge Fund for families financially impacted by the pandemic.

With a successful launch and first initiative, BAC looks to the future. Officer elections and a social event with Black alumnae from GPS, McCallie, and Baylor are planned for fall, and additional engagement opportunities are in the works to help create a better community for our alumnae and students of color.

“Our mission is to attract, retain, engage, donate, and serve our Black community,” said Lauren Lawrence Swanson ’09, who led BAC efforts this year and who serves as DEI Student Support and Community Engagement Coordinator. “We hope to build lasting relationships between Black alums and Black students at GPS. The possibilities are endless.” The steering committee members worked together to establish a mission for BAC, ultimately landing on the following tenets: • Attract: Facilitate programs and partnerships that attract

Black students, faculty, and staff to the school • Retain: Support Black students—from admission to Commencement • Engage: Connect current students and alumnae with mentoring and professional development • Donate: “Friend-raising” and fundraising for

GPS needs • Serve: Act as GPS ambassadors in the community and to fellow GPS alumnae