Santander US gifts $50,000 to support Alvernia's Reading Collegiate Scholars Program

Investment expands tuition scholarships and wraparound support for Berks County students

Alvernia University receives a $50,000 gift from Santander US to support the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program (RCSP), a scholarship and student-success initiative administered through the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement.

Established in 2014, the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program provides tuition-based scholarship support and comprehensive services that promote college persistence and successful degree completion. Launched initially as a joint initiative between Reading School District and Alvernia, the program has expanded to include students who live in Berks County or attend a Berks County high school.

“The Reading Collegiate Scholars Program is a powerful expression of who we are at Alvernia: a mission-driven university committed to access, belonging and student success,” said Alvernia University President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “Santander’s generous support strengthens a proven pathway that helps talented Berks County students not only get to college, but succeed through graduation and beyond.”

The gift will bolster RCSP scholarship support and student-success programming, including bridge programming that eases the transition from high school to college and ongoing advising and resource connections coordinated through the program.

"At Santander, we believe in creating opportunities that help every student succeed,” said Angela Moultrie, Region President, Santander Bank, N.A. “Through our partnership with Alvernia University, we are proud to support the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program that provides students with the resources and experiences that make a meaningful difference in their education and future careers.”

RCSP Snapshot:

• Founded in 2014; expanded beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year to include eligible Berks County students
• 142 scholars admitted since launch; 57 graduates to date
• 88% graduation rate and 93% retention rate; scholars’ cumulative GPA is 3.0
• 65 students enrolled as RCSP Scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year
• Scholars have provided nearly 1,800 hours of community service

“From the earliest days of the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, Santander recognized what’s possible when we remove barriers for local students,” said Alvernia Chief Advancement, Government and Athletics Officer Thomas Minick ’98 MBA ’10. “As one of the program’s early philanthropic supporters in 2015, Santander has invested for more than a decade in scholars who are earning degrees, building careers and strengthening Reading and Berks County. This latest gift helps sustain the scholarships and wraparound support that keep students on track from the transition to college through graduation.”

For more information about the Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, visit the program webpage.

About Santander US

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (SHUSA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Madrid-based Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN) (Santander), recognized as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune Magazine in 2025, with approximately 180 million customers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. As the intermediate holding company for Santander’s U.S. businesses, SHUSA is the parent company of financial companies with more than 11,300 employees, 4.5 million customers, and assets of $165 billion in the fiscal year ended 2024. These include Santander Bank, N.A., Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Banco Santander International, Santander Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC and several other subsidiaries. Santander US is recognized as a top 10 auto lender as well as a top 10 multifamily bank lender and servicer and has a growing wealth management business. For more information about Santander US, please visit www.santanderus.com.