The Brook J. Lenfest Foundation of Philadelphia, PA, established the Dawn K. Lenfest Scholarship at Sherman College in December 2005. Dawn Lenfest, D.C., a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic, decided to provide straight chiropractic students with substantial scholarships so that they would be able to focus on establishing their careers rather than on debt retirement when they graduate.

This fund provides $10,000 annual scholarships to one student in quarters 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and to two students in quarters 10-14. With the anticipation that this Scholarship Fund will not only continue but also expand in years to come, many students will face less substantial student loans following graduation.

Applicants for a Lenfest Scholarship must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, service to the college and to the community and write a 1,000 word essay on their vision of straight chiropractic.

In early 2006, the first five scholarships were awarded. It is anticipated that the number of recipients will increase to eight per year. Lenfest’s hope is that students who receive the scholarship in their first year at Sherman will receive it each year thus reducing their tuition loans by 50% when they graduate.

“We are building leaders in straight chiropractic and allowing them to begin to realize their potential quickly without significant debt. This can only help those individuals, the communities they will serve and the profession as a whole,” said Lenfest.