Senior Rewa Burnham Advocates for Increased Funding for Federal Financial Aid at Congressional Briefing

Trinity senior Rewa Burnham of Alexandria, Virginia, advocated for increased funding of federal financial aid at a standing-room only Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. Burnham spoke to a gathering of more than 100, including members of Congress, Congressional staff, education advocates and students at a breakfast meeting on September 15 sponsored by the Student Aid Alliance.

Rewa Burnham is featured in a special calendar that is being distributed to all members of Congress by the Student Aid Alliance this fall. Part of an effort secure increased federal funding for student aid programs, the calendar features several students from across the country and tells how federal student aid and aid from their educational institution have made the dream of college a reality. Click here to see Rewa Burnham's profile.

The Student Aid Alliance is a coalition of organizations representing students, colleges and universities and others who believe that all qualified students should be able to go to college regardless of their financial resources. The federal government has taken the lead in ensuring accessible postsecondary education opportunities. Currently, the federal government provides 73 percent of all student aid. Without it, millions of students could not attend college. Recently, Congress has taken significant steps to reinvigorate funding for student aid. But more is needed.

Rewa Burnham had always dreamed of going to college and is the first person in her family to do so. Making her dream a reality, however, was a challenge for Rewa.

Rewa's parents were unable to provide any financial support for her college educations, so she found a job and began working full time while taking classes in the evening. Her earnings, which barely covered her living expenses and tuition, made her ineligible for financial aid. Juggling college courses and a full-time job was stressful: "It was hard to concentrate on my academics, and I didn't feel that I was getting the full benefit of a college experience," recalls Rewa.

Searching for a more rigorous and enriching academic experience, Rewa set her sights on Trinity, a comprehensive university in Washington, DC. She met with the director of financial aid who explained the financial aid process and helped Rewa apply for assistance. Rewa's financial aid package includes a Pell Grant, Stafford Loans, federal work-study, and a scholarships from Trinity.

Rewa' financial aid support enables her to be a full-time student, live on campus, and be fully engaged in campus life. "At Trinity, the faculty push me intellectually and encourage me to discover my full potential," she says. "There's an expectation of accountability that makes me strive to do my very best."

Rewa, who has a double major in English and public affairs, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior and, in her senior year, is president of the student government Association. She works off campus as a research assistant for a national columnist and, on campus, is a resident assistant. Rewa plans to attend graduate school and earn a doctoral degree, and wants to teach at the college level.

"My college dreams would not have been possible without my federal grants and loans, and a generous scholarship from Trinity."