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Every year, promising students drop out of college because financial obstacles overwhelm them. Others quit because they simply lack proper guidance and become discouraged. As a result, our society is deprived of their best contributions. More tragically, they may never reach their full God-given potential. Many students do graduate—but with crippling debt obligations that can prevent them from fully engaging and contributing their best to their community.
Severe student debt hits underserved and financially challenged students especially hard. In 2018, 69% of college students graduated with an average debt of $29,800. Pell Grant recipient’s graduated with an average debt of $31, 200 . The higher the debt, the greater the chances the student will end up in loan default. This is especially true for those in underserved communities. By helping students avoid excessive debt and giving them guidance along the way, Trinity Education Foundation is making college the springboard to productivity and fulfillment it was meant to be. The need is great. But we know the generosity of the Foundation’s donors is greater!
Trinity Education Foundation provides scholarships and guidance to students at Christian colleges and seminaries to foster academic success and to inspire vocational development reflecting the Gospel’s values of love, justice, and healing for the sake of the world.
To see graduates embark on meaningful vocations and constructively impact their communities in response to Christ’s calling to lives of service and stewardship of God’s creation.
We value the time-honored traditions of Christian service, education, and unconditional love to benefit all of God’s creation.
Our logo expresses our conviction that a life based on biblical truth, when combined with a thirst for understanding, will be dynamic and fruitful. A passage from Jeremiah says it well:
“… Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
-Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
The cost of college escalates with each passing year whether it’s a public state university, non-profit or for-profit college. As these costs increase, it becomes more challenging for those in marginalized communities to find the funds to fulfill their college and career dreams. One of the fastest declining college student groups is the lower middle class. Though the “Effective Family Contribution” calculations indicate parents in this demographic should be able to pay for school, the costs associated with attendance are simply beyond the family’s ability to pay. Trinity Education Foundation provides scholarships with significant financial commitment, opening doors for students who would not otherwise be able to attend college.
It is estimated that at least one third of college students will change their degree at least once after starting school. Changing a degree mid-stream can increase the cost of college due to additional classes required by the new degree. At Trinity Education Foundation we utilize an award-winning validated assessment, PathwayU, to help students understand their unique gifts and vocational interests as they start their Freshman year. If a student realizes they want to change their degree focus, we want to help them make this decision sooner than later to ensure a beneficial college experience and little to no financial impact.
Studies show that college students with support systems in place will have greater success at finishing college on time and transitioning to their preferred career. Many students find their first year of college to be daunting and feel overwhelmed by the sudden “freedom”of being on their own and having to navigate a new environment. Our coaches provide a place for students to get input, direction, and develop critical thinking skills. From freshman year to senior year, the coach will guide the student in areas like leadership development, time management, relationship building, resume preparation, mock interviewing, networking, internships to support their career goals, and development of a job search action plan.
Trinity Education Foundation was formed in 2007 as a supporting organization to Trinity Lutheran College. Since then it has continued its mission of providing financial support and guidance for students throughout the Northwest.
Many know Trinity Lutheran College by its former name, Lutheran Bible Institute-Seattle, which was founded in 1944. Like many such institutions, the college experienced declining enrollment in recent years, and saw its final graduating class in 2016. The Foundation then decided to continue and expand its core mission by helping students attending accredited Christian colleges in the region.
The tradition of helping young people acquire a strong Christian education is continuing—through the support of our generous patrons.
Lutheran Bible Institute-Seattle (LBIS) opened downtown, moving soon afterward to the north Seattle neighborhood of Greenwood. Students were offered programs in biblical studies, theology, and missions. Courses in Christian education and youth ministry soon followed.
LBIS moved eastward to the Providence Heights area of Issaquah, Washington. The new campus was situated on 39 wooded acres formerly owned by the Sisters of Providence.
LBIS was formally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Trinity Education Foundation was established as a supporting organization to Trinity Lutheran College to provide scholarships to students attending the college.
Now renamed Trinity Lutheran College (TLC), the school relocated to downtown Everett, Washington. The former Port Gardner building was remodeled, adding to a campus that now included a Campus Center, adjacent parking garage, and two nearby student apartment buildings. TLC offered bachelor’s degrees in 10 majors and 17 minors, as well as two-year associate degrees in biblical studies, one-year certificates in professional studies, and one-year certificates in biblical studies. TLC maintained its distinctiveness as a biblically-centered institution by requiring all bachelor’s students to complete the Trinity Crux Curriculum, which included biblical studies, spiritual formation, and service learning.
Continuing the legacy that inspired the founders of Lutheran Bible Institute and Trinity Lutheran College, Trinity Education Foundation is providing educational opportunities to new generations of promising college and seminary students.
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