College Success
Student retention is one of NCPA's greatest successes and continues to be a top priority. The Trenchard Foundation Institute of Excellence (TFIOE), NCPA’s college success program, is comprehensive and personalized. The program supports students by developing their identity, building coping skills to manage stressors and creating social support networks. NCPA staff members meet individually with scholars, create individualized success plans, teach academic seminars and coordinate social, leadership and character events.
Our efforts are working, with NCPA college scholars averaging a 90% first-year-to-second-year retention rate. Nationally, only 11% of first-generation, low-income students graduate from college. As NCPA's student enrollment grows, maintaining our individualized approach to education and support is critical, but the 2016 cohort achieved an 85% graduation rate. .
College Scholar Accomplishments
- 1 in 5 NCPA college graduates pursue a graduate or professional degree.
- 9 scholars have earned the nationally-competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship award to study abroad.
- Number of Gilman applicants: 11,441
- Number of Gilman scholarships awarded: 3,276
- Number of Gilman scholarships awarded to First‐Generation College Students: 1,526
- NCPA has had a total of 150 college graduates to date.
- Numerous scholars were recognized with academic and campus leadership awards, and also selected to serve as Campus Ambassadors, Orientation Leaders and Resident Assistants.
- Scholars are interested in a wide variety of majors, including accounting, architecture, biological sciences, civil engineering, mathematics, nutrition and health science, pre-criminology and criminal justice, psychology, sociology, theater and many more.
Trenchard Foundation Institute of Excellence
In 2004, Bob Trenchard founded The Barbara Trenchard Foundation to honor Barbara after she passed away. Barbara was always full of life, actively involved in community and church activities as well as being a loving wife, devoted mother and best friend of many. She had a goal of starting a scholarship fund. Before partnering with NCPA, the foundation awarded 32 scholarships to outstanding students who needed financial assistance to attend college. In 2016, the name was changed to The Trenchard Foundation to honor Barbara’s son, Trey Trenchard, and his brother, Todd Trenchard. In 2018, The Trenchard Foundation was gifted to the NCPA through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
The Trenchard Foundation has partnered with the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy to cover the cost of college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, including tuition, books, housing and meals, and fees for students who complete the NCPA high school requirements.
In recognition of this generous contribution, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln component of NCPA has been named The Trenchard Foundation Institute of Excellence.
Nebraska’s partnership with the Trenchard Foundation provides first-generation, low-income Nebraska students with the financial assistance to attain the dream of a college education. Students will enter their professional careers with a strong community of support and without the added burden of debt thanks to this donation.
NCPA would like to express our gratitude for this generous contribution to all members of The Trenchard Foundation Board of Directors.
Summer Institute
Learn more about how NCPA partners with scholars and families to make the transition to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Support NCPA
NCPA's donor base shares a common commitment to serving historically underserved students and communities through education.
Learn how you can support NCPA and their mission to serve first-generation, low-income students who aim to graduate with a college degree.
If you would like to learn more about how you or your organization can help support NCPA's efforts, please contact:
Joanna Nordhues
Assistant Vice President
University of Nebraska Foundation
402-458-1178
joanna.nordhues@nufoundation.org