COLUMBUS – WGU Ohio today announced the receipt of a $25,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation to support students whose finances have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are grateful to AT&T for this grant to assist WGU Ohio students,” said K.L. Allen, state director for WGU Ohio. “The pandemic has hit all Ohioans in unexpected ways, and we don’t want any of our students to face a choice between their education and meeting their household needs. This will help bridge that gap by supplementing WGU’s already robust Night Owl Scholarship Assistance Program.”

“One of AT&T’s core values is to be there when people need us,” said AT&T Ohio President Brad McLean. “Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is rooted in that belief. We hope that this contribution helps keep some hard-working students on the path toward graduation, during an unusually difficult time.”

The AT&T grant will provide 25 WGU Ohio students with $1,000 scholarships to allow them to continue their course of study to achieve their degree.  New and currently enrolled students can request these scholarships and other WGU Ohio financial assistance through the university’s WGU Ohio Night Owl Scholarship Program. The program offers WGU Ohio students scholarship assistance that can be used for tuition, fees, and instructional materials to allow them to continue their course of study in the face of financial pressures.  Students are eligible to apply for the WGU Ohio Night Owl Scholarship Program if they encounter one of the following financial emergencies:

• Loss of job or reduction in work hours
• Urgent care/emergency room visits that are not covered by insurance
• Co-pays/deductibles
• Housing eviction
• Food insecurity

In addition, WGU Ohio students may be eligible for federal financial aid.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T 

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities, and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. The company’s signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $500 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships, and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.