Martin and Kay of Iowa
Martin and Kay value the STO funds that allow
their children, Wendy, Erin and Eric, to receive a
faith-based, academically challenging education
that will prepare them for a successful adult life.Martin and Kay both attended public schools in Iowa, and they live on a farm near Alta, Iowa. When it came time to decide how their children would be educated, they knew that public schools would not be their first choice. They decided that their children should attend a Catholic school. However, facing tough economic times and increasing tuition costs, they were not sure how they would be able to afford a private school.
Now Martin and Kay have a son and daughter attending St. Mary's Catholic School, thanks to a school choice program, and another daughter who is in college. St Mary's is known as a strong college-preparatory school, and a large number of students at St. Mary's receive college scholarships. So Martin and Kay decided to send their oldest daughter, Erin, there to prepare her for college. Erin ended up receiving several scholarships to college, and she found that St. Mary's prepared her well for the academic demands of higher education.
However, when Martin and Kay’s two youngest children, Wendy and Eric, began to attend St. Mary's, the family found it increasingly difficult to afford the rising cost of tuition. Fortunately, they learned about the state’s School Tuition Organization (STO) and applied for tuition grants at the Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation. They found the application process to be very quick and easy. Soon they received STO funds that allowed them to keep Wendy and Eric at St. Mary's, lessening the financial stress on the family.
Eric and Wendy receive a more individualized education at St. Mary’s than they would have been able to get at a public school, and they enjoy smaller class sizes. This allows for more one-on-one attention, creating an environment more conducive to learning. Now Eric and Wendy will have the same opportunity to earn college scholarships that their older sister did.
Martin and Kay appreciate the special care their children receive at St. Mary's, and they feel that teachers, parents, and students at St. Mary's want to be there. They are especially thankful to the Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation and the STO funds that allow their children to receive an affordable, faith-based, academically challenging education that will prepare them for a successful adult life.
