According to an analysis done by College Factual, Weber State University had a dropout rate of over 29% in 2023. Internally, the university has identified that 400 to 500 Weber State students who are at least 75% through their degree drop out every semester, listing financial strain as one of the reasons.
To address this challenge, Weber State’s President Brad Mortensen developed the CATapult Scholarship.
The initiative gained momentum after a student who was struggling with her financial aid approached Mortensen and confided that other students would have likely dropped out when faced with the same burden. While working to reestablish funding, her story underscored the harsh reality many students face in the last years of schooling: money running out.
Mortensen said that CATapult scholarship is the most flexible award available to Weber State Students.
“The only criteria are really that you are at least halfway through with your degree and you have identified a pathway to finish your degree, and that you have financial need,” Mortensen said. “That doesn’t even need to necessarily be based off of the FAFSA form.”
Students have reached out to the president, torn between paying essential bills or finishing school. When they learn about the CATapult Scholarship, which averages $1,500 per award, they gain the final push to complete their schooling.
The outcome of the scholarship has been rewarding.
“The success has just been off the charts. 99% of the students who’ve received a CATapult Award are either still in school or they’ve completed their degree. That is better, honestly, than any outcomes I initially had hoped for,” Mortensen said.
The president has seen how the scholarship’s impact goes beyond just dollars.
“In addition to that financial help, the boost of confidence that it gives the students knowing that they have that support is just as critical,” Mortensen said.
The stories shared on Weber’s CATapult Scholarship page by students who were awarded the CATapult Scholarship show how significantly the funding propelled recipients to success.
After the coronavirus pandemic affected his income, Serge Twagirayezu was concerned he wouldn’t be able to finish college. He applied for the CATapult funding based on a friend’s recommendation.
“The scholarship really catapulted me to the finish line, and I was able to graduate,” Twagirayezu said.
Jasmine Lagunas didn’t know how she would continue to afford college. When she was awarded the CATapult Scholarship, she gained the confidence to finish.
The initiative, which was announced at President Mortensen’s inauguration on January 7, 2020, has already raised over $3 million to date. The goal is to provide funding to students immediately, and to build a sustainable endowment to ensure the programs’ long-term viability.
“We just know this is going to always be a need for our Weber State students,” Mortensen said.
Students can apply for the CATapult Scholarship through Scholarship Universe, which is easily accessed via a link on Weber State’s Financial Aid and Scholarships webpage.
In order to be considered for the award, students must first meet with their academic advisor and ensure that their final semesters are outlined in Cattracks. After completing the FAFSA, students are then asked to submit a statement explaining why the support is needed.
With the help of donors, the CATapult award has helped 2,100 students complete their degrees. CATapult is not just a scholarship; it’s a boost that, in some cases, carries students confidently to the finish line.
