Portland Magazine
Development
November 18, 2020
by Marcus Covert ’93, ’97
Distance learning, while essential due to the pandemic, has presented new challenges for many University of Portland students. Aimee Morlatt '22, junior finance major and president of UP’s mental health advocacy group Active Minds, learned first-hand of students attending Zoom classes from their cars, missing lectures due to lack of internet service or being in different time zones (especially international students), along with other inequities and hardships.
News that the Fall 2020 semester would take place online made many students’ situations worse, particularly for those who were relying on campus housing and employment. Aimee and senior Addie Zhao '21 took action by setting up a GoFundMe account in August to engage their friends and families to provide relief funding to UP students in need.
Now named the Intersectional Hope and Healing Fund, Aimee and Addie’s brainchild has transitioned from a GoFundMe to an annual scholarship fund thanks to help from the UP development office. It’s raised $5,225 to date and has assisted 12 students with awards totaling $5,000.
The assistance offered by the fund doesn’t stop at direct awards. The student committee is also helping guide students to the resources they need, such as the Presidential Hope Fund. Professors have given committee members time during class to inform students of the fund and ask for support as well. “Transparency is a founding principle of our fund,” according to Aimee. “We don’t have requirements per se, but make our gifts based on severity of need and availability of funds. If we can’t make a larger gift, we offer what we can and tell the applicant exactly why. Sometimes contributions fall behind the demand.”
And what makes this an “intersectional” fund? “Our goal was to try to remove the bias that can exist in other forms of financial aid,” says Amiee. “Those requirements aren’t bad—most scholarships are for specific majors, schools, class years, GPAs—but we want our relief fund to be for everybody.” Students from a wide range of majors and class years make up the Intersectional Hope Fund Committee, and their intention is to carry on the fund year to year—and not just to assist fellow Pilots affected by pandemic-related hardships. Some students needed help because of the summer 2020 wildfires, and the Intersectional Hope and Healing Fund is set up for Pilots who want to help Pilots both now and in the future.
Donors can contribute to the fund and students can apply for aid on the UP Giving website.
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