Family Income Does Not restrict Friendships, Bonds

Lunch at Rockhurst costs $5. A nominal fee in the wake of $10,000 tuition. Five dollars is a droplet in an ocean of expenses.

And yet many students would qualify for a free lunch if they attended a public high school: 56 in fact, according to a study conducted by Mrs. Valerie McCoy, director of diversity. Parents of these students earn below $29,055 a year, for a family of four, and meet other requisites of the free lunch program.

But the interesting thing about this facet of Rockhurst culture is not the fact that poverty stricken students are able to afford admission. It is only a piece of the puzzle.

This puzzle consists both of a numerically diverse income distribution among students and an atmosphere of friendship that students develop despite wealth.

Unbeknownst to some, there is a vast economic diversity growing at Rockhurst, a diversity that allows students to thrive together, despite their differing economic backgrounds.

The highest percentage of families at Rockhurst earn $158,597. 12.8% of Rockhurst families make this income each year. Although this is a low percentage compared to the total student population, this income tract holds the most students.

Statistics like this were provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, which researched median household income in “tracts” based on zip code. By pairing Rockhurst area codes with the projected income statistics of each tract, there is a general idea of how far-ranging Rockhurst wealth can be.

Aside from geographical analysis, work grant also demonstrates the divide amongst Rockhurst income classes. $1.7 million was awarded to students for financial aid during this school year alone. These awards ranged from $500-$7,000, with each scholarship based on the need of individual recipients.

And yet only 360 of 1085 students received financial aid.

For some, attendance is only possible through aid, for others financial aid relieves stress from the cost of Rockhurst admission.

“It’s become such a big part of my life,” senior Jack McCabe, work grant worker, said. “It’s nice knowing that every time I finish an hour of work 35 dollars has been removed from my tuition.”

Students who work for financial assistance often form bonds with other students.

Junior Julian Torres describes meeting new people during summer work grant in the Upper Room.

“[Senior Jaylon Verser] and I worked as counselors together and we got to know each other very well,” Torres said, “Now I consider him a close friend because of the work grant experience.”

This aid is only possible through the generosity of others, some of which is contributed by high-income earning families. This further demonstrates a wide diversity of income amongst students.

The highest median income is $232,553, with 4.4% of the student population living in that Kansas census tract. This surpasses the $46,229 median household income Kansas residents had during the 2010-2011 school year, according to the “Kansas City Star.”  And it totally eclipses the lowest median household income for Rockhurst students.

Although this tract accounts for only .5% of Rockhurst students, these families receive $27,648 annually. Some receive even less. Some students attend school with incomes as low as $15,000.  If they were to pay Rockhurst admission fully, not to mention books and other necessities, they would have roughly $5,000 for everything else.

And yet as a whole, individuals donated around $610,000 in funding money during the Rockhurst auction last year. The auction averages $500,000 every year. Every student’s income in the poorest tract added together is three times less than the auction average.

Facts like this indicate the financial stress Rockhurst families must suffer, but also demonstrate how economically mixed the student body is. This enables students to meet financially diverse peers.

“I would definitely say that my two sons have had a diverse collection of friends from different parts of the metro area,” Mr. Jack Reichmeier director of admission and financial aid said.

This exemplifies a commodity that all Rockhurst students seem to afford, regardless of economic diversity – friendship. Despite over a $200,000 difference between high and low salaries, students here form bonds that surpass a numerical analysis of income.

“When we all get together it doesn’t matter because we’re friends, not businessmen,” senior Kyle Rieger said.

These friendships can be tolling, requiring individuals to invest time and effort into the lives of other students, but in relation to the benefits, the cost is quite minimal, even less than a five-dollar lunch.

Tags Diversity family income