“I couldn’t believe it. It was like a miracle.”
That’s how Yann describes the moment his admissions counselor offered him a scholarship to Franciscan University.
Yann’s family emigrated from Cameroon to the United States. His parents sacrificed a lot to send him and his siblings to Catholic schools. But college? No chance. That was just a dream. A scholarship made that dream a reality. And generous friends like you made it happen.
Beyond the costs, Yann had other worries. He had grown as a Catholic in high school—would that continue once he was out on his own? Or would he be like his high school friends who lost their faith in college? Or was a place like Franciscan University too Catholic for him? When Yann had a chance to visit Franciscan University, he went mostly as a chance to miss class. He toured campus. He met with our head basketball coach. What he learned amazed him.
He could live his faith freely at Franciscan. He could be openly pro-life. He could have pro-life friends. He could play D-III basketball with teammates and coaches who held him accountable for his decisions off the court as well as on. More, he felt God calling him to Franciscan.
Yann knew Franciscan’s tuition was more reasonable than other universities. But it was still out of reach. He did the only thing he could: He prayed. And one day his phone rang. It was his admissions counselor. He was calling to offer Yann a scholarship.
Today, six-foot-eight Yann protects the basket as a center on our Barons basketball team and earns academic honors as a finance major. He has grown as a Catholic, pro-life man and isn’t afraid to share his faith.
Your gift will answer the prayers of students like Yann who will share Christ’s abundant life with the world.
May the Lord bless you for your generosity. Please keep our students and our whole University community in your prayers!