Can you help explain the following concept:

If the first payment is awarded 3 years from today... then why do you go back only two years to find out how much the cost will be today?

Original problem (context for above question): A scholarship will award $10,000 each year and will grow 2% per year forever. The first scholarship award will be 3 years from today. If the interest rate is 4%, how much will it cost to fully fund the scholarship today?