Part of the Costaatt Alumni Association's mission is to serve the Costaatt community by "providing life-long connections to the college," according to event co-ordinator Trevonne Gooding-Barrow of Costaatt's alumni relations department.
She was speaking to the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview on Monday. In keeping with its mission the association is launching a fund-raising drive with a boat ride on Saturday. The group is trying to raise $25,000 to provide scholarships for five current Costaatt students.
Gooding-Barrow said although GATE covers students' tuition, many strive to meet the growing costs of textbooks, supplies and even transportation. "We have realised that there is a need for us to provide financial aid to current students since we found out that financial challenges is the third most popular reason why students leave the college," she said.
The boat ride will be the first of many annual fund-raising activities. Since it's 2012 establishment, the Costaatt Alumni Association has hosted a financial planning seminar, participated in various Costaatt events and held networking functions for both alumni and students.
The week following the event will also see the launch of a Dollar Campaign donation drive. "We want people to donate whatever they can even if it's just a dollar."
The association will also set up a scholarship committee to handle the screening of applicants and distribution of money.
Clifrine Evans, Costaatt Alumni Association president said the past students who had experienced financial difficulties should be particularly understanding of the impact a scholarship could make and come out to support the event. The event is open to the public and those who can't attend can still contact the association to make donations.
Tickets for the boat ride, which is aboard the Coral Vision, can be purchased at the Costaatt City Campus, Cleve's One-Stop Music Shop on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, or by calling 687-0783 and 303-3241.