Two very young students at The Ellis School are receiving full scholarships worth more than $330,000 per student, thanks to the EQT Foundation.
The Ellis School and the EQT Foundation announced the launch of the EQT Scholars Program which provides full scholarships for two girls starting in pre-K or Kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade.
Payten Butler from Penn Hills and Emerie Wade from Verona, both enrolled in Kindergarten this year, were selected because they embodied what sponsor EQT Foundation is looking for in students: “an eagerness to learn, curiosity about the world around them, an excitement to dive in, and a strong support network at home that will ensure their success.”
When they graduate, two more students will be selected.
The scholarships cover full tuition for two students who already have been accepted to The Ellis School and have demonstrated financial need. The selected students will remain EQT Scholars for the entirety of their Ellis schooling, as long as they continue to qualify for financial assistance and remain in good academic standing.
“The EQT Scholars Program illustrates the Foundation’s mission by providing meaningful educational experiences to children in the region who may not otherwise have the opportunity,” said EQT Foundation President Charlene Petrelli.
The Ellis School is the third independent school in Pittsburgh that the EQT Foundation has partnered with to create an EQT Scholars Program, following Winchester Thurston in 2015 and Shadyside Academy in 2016. The Foundation plans to endow similar programs at other independent schools over the next few years.
Head of The Ellis School Macon Finley says, ““We are so very grateful to EQT for making these scholarships possible. The students who received the scholarships are wonderful additions to our school community and we hope they will find their experiences at Ellis to be truly transformational.”
