"Parishes, dioceses, autocephalous churches, church organizations, and even individual clergy and hierarchs have stepped up to help us keep our seminarians debt free," said The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, as he explained the "explosion" in tuition aid during the past two years, available through the seminary's "Tuition Matching Grant Program."
"In 2012, our seminary inaugurated its 'Fully-Paid Tuition Plan,' " he recalled, "and at that time, St. Vladimir's made a commitment to pay 50% of tuition for students who meet the need-based criteria set by the seminary, plus up to 25% more of a qualifying student's tuition if that student could find matching funds from a church-related entity to cover another 25%, possibly making their education 100% tuition free.
"I'm thrilled to report that from 2012 to 2013, the 25% matching support from outside sources nearly doubled, from $56,779 in FY2013 to $104,576 in FY2014," Father Chad stated. "And this academic year, if spring semester support continues like fall semester support, which already stands at $55,539, these sources will contribute over $110,000 in cash to our seminarians—$5,000 more in matching funds than the last academic year!
"All of this support has made it possible for many of our students—women and men—to attend seminary 100% tuition free, or nearly tuition free," he concluded. "Church bodies are supplying 25% of a student's tuition, and we must remember that our regular donors faithfully continue to help the seminary supply the other 75%, which represents the real cost of tuition the seminary needs to cover. These funds are critical to meet the real costs to educate our students."
Overall, the "Tuition Matching Grant Program" has helped 24 men and 3 women in FY2013, 31 men and 6 women in FY2014, and 26 men and 3 women in FY2015, reported the Associate Chancellor for Finance at St. Vladimir's, Melanie Ringa. "I admire the commitment from so many church bodies and church people to aid our seminarians," she said, "and, I admire the seminary's commitment, as well, and our donors on the other side of this equation."
"In FY2012, prior to the start of the 'Fully Paid Tuition Plan' supported by the 'Tuition Matching Grant Program,' our school offered $180,245 in scholarship awards; the next year, after the start of the new plan and program, that figure went up to $296,769, and it just keeps rising," she continued.
"Moreover, outside sources, which include a variety of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christian jurisdictions and churches, as well as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), have taken a deep interest in providing for our students," she noted. "In FY2014, student financial aid from all sources, including the seminary, totaled $505,921, and that's significant."
Students agree. Olga Kirilchenko, a second-year seminarian in the Master of Arts program who receives her matching funds from Holy Noble-Born Prince Alexander Nevsky Church (near MGIMO University) in Moscow, reminisced, "When I first heard about St. Vladimir's grants, I literally couldn't believe my ears. I even had to ask the Director of Admissions, Pdn. Joseph Matusiak (with whom I was on the phone), to repeat what he had just said, and he probably attributed it to my being a non-native English-speaker!
"In reality, I was simply dumbfounded," admitted Olga. "First he told me that I was entitled to a 50% tuition discount simply for not being a millionaire...and while I was still trying to wrap my brain around that, he said that if my parish or diocese would pay 25% for me, then St. Vlad's would cover another 25% of my tuition.
"Of course, I wanted to study in St. Vlad's," she continued. "Yet quitting my job, flying transatlantic, and spending all my savings (that I initially considered to be insufficient) seemed to be a huge, bold, and somewhat crazy step.
"For weeks I had been browsing the svots.edu website, gathering courage and clarifying questions to make that one very important phone call," she said. "And the unexpected grant opportunity was one of the factors that helped turn my indecisive dream into reality.
"I am exceedingly grateful to the seminary for making my hazy dream to study here accomplishable," she concluded, "and to my parish and my father-confessor in Moscow, who supported me all the way—via a recommendation letter, words of encouragement, and being so open to the matching grant opportunity."
Closer to home, Tristan Gall, senior student in the Master of Divinity program, expressed his gratitude to Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Edinboro, PA, and to the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western PA (OCA), saying, "If it weren't for the Tuition Matching Program, the support from my diocese, and my home parish, it would be nearly impossible for me to attend seminary.
"I remember when I first heard about the plan," he recalled. "I had been wondering how I would make ends meet. I was at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, Pennsylvania, contemplating seminary, and Mother Magdalena came into the refectory and threw down a printout of the initiative taken by St. Vladimir's. She said, 'Here's your answer.'
"I was struck with joy and almost immediately visited the seminary with my dad," he said.
"I'm overwhelmingly thankful to be here, and my heart overflows with gratitude to everyone who helps our cause at St. Vladimir's," Tristan continued. "The encouragement and support from benefactors uplifts all of us spiritually. It's comforting just knowing that there are people out there who care for Christ's ministry."
To find out more about the seminary's Tuition Matching Grant Program, or about studying at St. Vladimir's Seminary, please contact Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak via email, or call 914.961.8313, ext. 328.
