Jim White Honored for Helping Students Pay Their Way

It’s been a tumultuous year in the world of financial aid in higher education.

A major update from the Department of Education brought the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to a virtual standstill, leaving students with uncertain futures and financial aid counselors with tied hands when it came to offering help.

That’s a tough position to be in for a university branch that exists to help students afford a college education.

But there amid the bad – some good news for Gonzaga’s financial aid office.

Recently retired Dean of Student Financial Services Jim White received one of the highest awards given by the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators.

The Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award honors either a person who has made significant contributions towards the organization’s goals over a long period of time, or for a single contribution of momentous importance.

With more than three decades of dedication to student support, White fits that description perfectly. The NASFAA adds, he made “an indelible mark on the financial aid community.”

White started his career at Seattle University but packed up and moved across Washington about 15 years ago, taking on director of financial aid at Gonzaga. It didn’t take long for White to advance to dean.

According to Sarah Everitt, current director of financial aid, one of his biggest accomplishments was the inception of the Gonzaga Access Pledge (GAP). Formerly known as the Magis Commitment, GAP works alongside the Federal Pell Grant, providing eligible students with full-tuition scholarships.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say Jim has helped hundreds of students and their families attend GU,” Everitt says.

An abundance of kindness in a field that even Everitt admits can be a bit dry. White, with a golden sense of humor to boot, was the remedy for that, cracking jokes while finding ways to make education accessible to all.

Even after retiring, White couldn’t stay away from the department he dedicated so many years to. He’s back working part-time in the office, filling in where needed and lifting spirits.

The NASFAA said it best: “His relentless advocacy, outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to fostering student success makes him exceptionally deserving of this recognition.”