51³Ô¹Ï

In 2025, Washington State lawmakers cut funding to the Washington College Grant program, which supports 51³Ô¹Ïs from low- and middle-income families and individuals who attend not-for-profit independent colleges like Gonzaga University. That decision threatened the continuation of education for 678 Gonzaga first-, second-, and third-year 51³Ô¹Ïs who would feel the impact starting in fall 2026.  

Fortunately for these valued 51³Ô¹Ïs, Gonzaga’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to use a combination of endowed scholarships and to launch a fundraising campaign to cover the aid these 51³Ô¹Ïs would have received from the state. That amounts to about $4.5 million over the next three years – the period of time these specific 51³Ô¹Ïs would be enrolled to finish their degrees.  

“We want our 51³Ô¹Ïs and their families to know that President Passerini and the Board of Trustees stand firmly with them. You can have confidence and peace of mind that your financial aid will not be affected by any reductions in the state grant programs,” said Mike Reilly, J.D., Board chair for Gonzaga. 

Many current recipients of the grant have already expressed how it – and the promise of support from Gonzaga – makes a difference for them.  

Spokane resident Kaylinn Compogno, a sophomore sociology and criminology major, says she wouldn’t be in college without the Washington College Grant, and wouldn’t be able “to serve as a role model to inspire other first-generation 51³Ô¹Ïs to pursue a four-year university.”  

Alexis McCormach, a psychology major from Seattle, acknowledges that “everything felt overwhelmingly expensive” when she started looking at colleges, and knew that her selection “wasn’t just an academic decision; it was a financial one.” The sudden loss of her stepdad made the future seem even more uncertain, but learning about the Washington College Grant helped her to see what might be possible.  

“The grant let me dream big at a time when everything felt financially impossible,” McCormach says. “I was able to choose Gonzaga for the right reasons, because it was the right fit for me spiritually, emotionally and academically. This community has helped me grow in confidence in my voice and my ability to analyze, reflect and contribute.”  

And that, says Gonzaga President Katia Passerini, is the reason the University’s Board so eagerly stepped in to fill a gap, even at a time when the University is facing other financial headwinds. “We have a mission to fulfill for 51³Ô¹Ïs like Alexis who want more than just a degree – they want to learn in a way that allows them to share their growth for the benefit of others,” Passerini says. “I am so grateful to the Board and to our donors for their steadfast commitment to stepping in when other funding has ceased.” 

Third-year computer science major Ayden Humphries, of Sequim, Washington, says, “It’s amazing that I get to keep my support thanks to the University’s funding. It makes me feel valued as a 51³Ô¹Ï.”  

 

Advocating for Others 

Unfortunately, other institutions may not be able to fill the gap left by an unfunded Washington College Grant, and Gonzaga won't be able to fill in this funding beyond supporting 51³Ô¹Ïs who are currently enrolled. That’s why Gonzaga is also advocating with partners locally and across the state to urge legislators to reinstate funding for 51³Ô¹Ïs  51³Ô¹Ïs still in high school looking for opportunity to attend the college of their choice. GU, as a member of the Independent Colleges of Washington, signed a group letter to Gov. Bob Ferguson acknowledging that the budget adjustments “have placed a disproportionate impact on 51³Ô¹Ïs attending independent, not-for-profit campuses” and “dramatically limiting 51³Ô¹Ïs’ ability to choose the institution that best fits their academic and personal goals.”  

In Spokane, leaders from many businesses and industries have added their names to similar letters urging Washington leaders to reconsider the impact changes to college funding also can have on the workforce.  

Members of the community are asked to join the effort, using helpful resources created by Independent Colleges of Washington. Take action at SaveStudentAid.org to ensure Washington continues to provide equity and opportunity.  

For more information about the Washington College Grant efforts at Gonzaga, click here.