The College of William and Mary’s Monroe Scholars program which gives research grants to William and Mary students who have top academic marks and who submit a proposal of their research project for pre-approval before acceptance into the program has awarded Trey Comstock a grant of $3,000 towards the project. In making this decision, they not only weighed Trey’s personal credentials but also, the realistic and academic nature of the project. Of the sophomores ask to submit proposals, less than a fourth actually receive their grant.
The Swem Library Media Center at the College of William and Mary has provided over $2,000 of professional video equipment free of charge. This is a service that they provide to the students and faculty of the College who wish to undertake academic projects during the summer and helped to make this project possible.
John Wesley United Methodist Church, in Houston, Texas, generously committed $1,000 through their college scholarship program. The church has been a home for both Trey and Bryan since their childhoods, and the community there has helped to shape the spiritual focus of the project as well as providing the aforementioned financial support.
Along with institutional assistance, over half of the funds for the project came from family members and small personal donations. Trey’s Aunt Cate, Parents, and Aunt Laura as well as Bryan’s Parents provided a backbone of support that brought the project from idea to actuality. The project also received a number of small personal donations from former pilgrims after a discussion about young people on the Camino at the 2007 American Pilgrims on the Camino Gathering.
The team deeply appreciates all the financial, emotional, and spiritual support that they have already receive. It has grown this project from a seed of an idea to a full-fledged expedition. the team has raised close to $10,000 plus the equipment provision. It truly does take a village.
