Paying them with an education is a good start, but it’s a pittance compared to the amount of money they are bringing in for other people. Arguing that their education is the only compensation they should be getting is akin to saying “we don’t need to pay the staff at our restaurant because we give them a free lunch during their shift.”
I don’t know what the answer is, but continuing to just offer them a scholarship while the adults in charge make money off their labor definitely isn’t it.
That sounds terrible. I hope you are doing ok now.