Class of 1985, this is where we come in : Through events like the reunion, alumni like us raise about 50 scholarships a year, which is a phenomenal achievement. These alumni-funded scholarships enable the college to reach out to students from around the world – typically from conflict zones, areas of tension or developing nations. Often they have little or no access to National Committee support or funding of any kind. In this sense supporting scholarships at AC is very different to the support alumni may give to National Committees.  The current focus within these areas is on the Middle East, Africa and Latin America regions and the college is targeting scholarships to complement the existing student body and maintain the greatest possible diversity in terms of nationalities, cultures, religions and socio-economic backgrounds.

You can see some examples of the kind of scholarship students supported here  -  http://www.atlanticcollege.org/sponsored-students-case-studies-1/

Why support the college ?

1. Supporting the college doesn't mean not supporting other worthy causes. It is absolutely not an either/or choice. There are many ways we can and should all contribute to making the world a better place; supporting AC is one of them.
   
2.  Paying it back : I am sure I am not alone in feeling that AC played an important and transformative role in my life, both personally and professionally. It would be true to say that many of us would not be where we are today, have lived the lives we have lived, without the two years at St.Donat’s. Though we may all have taken very different paths in our subsequent lives, I think it’s not a lot to ask that we all give something back (however modest) as a way of saying thank you and recognizing the impact AC has had on us. The reunion is a good and important symbolic opportunity to do this.
   
3.  AC has a unique role to play and without our support, the values it promotes (international understanding, tolerance, sustainability) are in danger of being eroded.  Without it, the school is at risk of becoming just another private school. It’s diversity and equality of opportunity that the college offered and should be able to offer in future that makes it unique. We all have a role in ensuring that.