RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

Kevin Dodson, Gxara Munda, Matthew OBrien, Malena Reyes.
TECM1700:007
24 November 2014

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

Introduction
For our site report we decided to visit the Emerald Eagle Scholars Program in order to get a
better understanding of what they do to help students. We will discuss information about when
the program was created, what the requirements are to be in the program, the benefits of being in
the program, the number of students that get to be involved in this program, how the program
keeps students to graduate in four years, and the overall goal of the program.

Background
The Emerald Eagle Scholars Program provides students of UNT, who meet their policy
requirements, with various methods of assistance. The department was established at the
University of North Texas in 2007 and since then has managed to help students graduate in four
years with guaranteed tuition and fees through Federal, State, and Institutional Grants. The
Emerald Eagle Scholars mission statement is to help students advance towards their goals
through their three conceptual pillars; Financial, Academic, and Engagement.

On-Site Visit
The Emerald Eagle Scholars office can be found at Sage hall in room 233, the glass suite on the
far side of the brightly colored student study area. Sage Hall is located behind UNTs future
student union and across from Sycamore Hall. Other surrounding establishments include the
current white tent food pavilion, the Physics Building and the RTVF and Performing Arts
Building.

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

Contact Information
Web Address

emeraldeagles.unt.edu

E-mail

emeraldeaglescholars@unt.edu

Phone Number

940-369-5251

Fax

940-565-2660

Facilities
Aside from providing financial aid, the Emerald Eagle Scholars program offers various facilities
to help students with their academic success.
Emerald Eagle Scholars Supervisors OfficeLocated in Sage Hall, room 230, the Supervisors
Office is run by temporary supervisor, Ashlia.
She is in charge of the technical operations
behind the program.
Emerald Eagle Scholars Suite- Located in Sage
Hall, room 233, the suite is run by 6
undergraduate and 1 graduate student currently
attending UNT. This is the main office that
students will need to go to if they have questions
about anything related to the program.
Emerald Eagle Freshman Residential Hall- Clark Hall is mainly a freshman dorm located
on 1717 Maple St., Denton, TX 76201 and is home to the Emerald Eagle REAL
Community.
The Learning Center- Located in Sage Hall, room 315, the Learning Center is a readily
available academic resource for all Emerald Eagle Scholars. The center supplies a variety
of resources including online tutoring,
supplemental instruction, volunteer
tutoring , a study skills lab, academic
coaching, an academic resource library,
and more.
TRiO- The TRio Program is comprised
of a variety of programs that help
students to overcome their class, social,
and cultural hindrances. The main office
for TRiO is located at Sage Hall, room
215.

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.
Student Money Management Center (SMMC)- Located at Chestnut Hall, room 313, the
SMMC provides Emerald Eagle Scholars with answers to any questions they may have
about financial aid as well as access to professionals who can help them with money
management.

Faculty
Ashlia

Supervisor

Vera Aganmwlnyi

Student faculty member

Our group interviewed Vera Aganmwlnyi, who is the 5 year veteran of the student led suite. We
interviewed Vera because of her credentials within the program. There are a total of 6
undergraduate students and one graduate student that work in the suite, and she had the most
knowledge and experience with the program.

Results
Our first question to the student faculty member, Vera Aganmwlynyi, was How and when was
the program established? Vera asserted that the Emerald Eagle Scholars Program was
established in 2007 by former supervisor, Lilyan Prado-Carrillo, in hopes to provide financial
and academic support for students and families that were economically challenged.
Our second question was What requirements are needed to be eligible for the program?
Vera confirmed that students in the program are required to come from a household that makes
an income of $40,000 or less annually and be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants through
UNT. She also added that students are required to enroll as a freshman at UNT the same year
that they graduate from high school in order to be in the program.
Our third question was Aside from financial aid, what are the benefits of being in the Emerald
Eagle Scholars program? Vera explained about how the Emerald Eagle Scholars program
requires students to be involved in programs such as TRiO, the Honors College, Band, Athletics,
or ACCESS Mentoring. She also mentioned that the program hosts the Emerald Eagle Ball, a
free event where scholarship recipients are able to socialize with one another and meet the
donors to the program.
Our fourth question was How many students does this program help? Vera stated that on
average the program aims to accept about 500 students annually, and there are currently between
1,500 and 2,000 students in the program.

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.
Our fifth question was Do you think that the program is successful in keeping students
motivated to graduate in four years? Vera agreed that a majority Emerald Eagle Scholars are
very academically motivated since the scholarship requires students to maintain a 2.5 grade point
average. In addition, she emphasized that the program only provides up to four years worth of
financial aid per student. After four years, students are no longer eligible for the program.
Our final question was What is your departments mission statement? Vera summarized that
their goal is simply to help students here at UNT, financially first, then through social and
academic aid. Other students in the suit also added in saying their program basically helps
students who can not afford college on their own to connect with other students like themselves.
The program first helps to get students through college as well as help them get involved in their
program because it is here specifically for them.

Conclusion
Emerald Eagle Scholars strives to provide financial option for students in pursuit of their
academic goals. After having had met with the staff, this goal was entirely present. The program,
mainly led by students, serves to incorporate an interactive relationship between students in need
and financial advisors. In spending only a short amount of time in the Emerald Eagle Scholars
suite, the open and welcoming environment was prevalent. This allows for students seeking their
services to feel entirely free to ask for help.
The Emerald Eagle Scholars program itself, is designed not only to assist financially but also
serves to help develop students as a whole. With the required service hours, housing agreements,
and grade requirements, Emerald Eagle Scholars acts to grow a students college stance as a
whole. The staffs efforts in helping students achieve these goals are what makes this program
successful and worth promoting.

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

References
Clark. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from
http://housing.unt.edu/sites/default/files/images/Clark.jpg
2011-2012 ParkingMap [Map]. (2011-2012). In Unt.edu. Retrieved November 23, 2014, from
http://www.unt.edu/transit/pdf/2011-2012 ParkingMap.pdf
(n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://media-cacheak0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/bc/65/b0bc656871dececdf9c6ba5cd8362a3f.jpg

Vera A. (2014, November 19). Personal interview.

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.

Thank You Letter

RUNNING HEAD: Detailed report over UNTs Emerald Eagle Scholars Program.