The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says it awarded more than $134,000 in scholarships to 163 women and minorities under its Path to Diversity (P2D) Scholarship Program during fiscal year 2021.
The scholarships were given to industry professionals from MBA member companies who are seeking to advance their careers through MBA Education programs, courses and select conferences.
“I want to congratulate all of the recipients who will be able to bolster their skills and further their career in the mortgage industry,” states Amber Lawrence, MBA’s associate vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. “As a part of MBA’s Home for All Pledge initiative, spearheaded by MBA 2022 Chair Kristy Fercho, one of the core commitments is championing DEI within an organization. The P2D Scholarship Program embodies the spirit of this initiative.”
P2D scholarships were funded primarily by donations from MBA’s Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA). MBA also received donations from CBRE, Quicken Loans, CMG Financial, SunTrust Mortgage, VantageScore Solutions, Ballard Spahr LLP and Cultural Outreach Solutions.
Awardees receive a voucher to cover course registration fees, up to a maximum of $2,000, for MBA Education programs and courses. To be eligible for a P2D scholarship, individuals must be currently employed by an MBA member firm or state MBA member firm, be a part of one or more underrepresented groups, and have two years of experience in the mortgage industry or some equivalent in real estate finance experience or training. There have been changes to streamline the P2D application process, including additional access to MBA’s virtual educational resources, expedited processing upon request, and allowing applicants to receive letters of recommendation from a broader range of industry professionals.