BY SARAH HERRING
Maddie Ahern got the opportunity to thank her scholarship donor at the Benefactor & Student Scholarship dinner on Sunday, March 26.
“It is an honor to receive a scholarship, and I cannot wait to meet my donor. This event is a great opportunity to socialize with other scholarship recipients,” Ahern said.
500 students were invited to the Scholarship Dinner. The process of receiving a donor funded scholarship begins with a 15-to-20-minute commitment to filling out an aid packing profile.
Student Financial Assistances pairs students seeking financial aid with donors that have specific restrictions for the recipient, such as major, class-year and location.
The event began at 5 p.m. and was held in the Pettit Atrium in Shields Science Center.
Marie Kelly, director of corporate, foundation and donor relations and Kelsey Pickering Associate director of corporate foundation and donor relations, created a low-pressure event for students to get to know their benefactors and other students.
“The scholarship dinner gives a different lens into the donor funded scholarships. We hope that students leave the event continuing to keep in contact with their donors and continue to have a successful semester,” Kelly said.
At the beginning of the academic year, benefactors receive only a profile of the student they are paired up with.
The dinner creates the opportunity for students to create connections with their benefactors through one-on-one conversations during the cocktail hour, and dinner.
Students are able to thank the benefactors for supporting them on their financial journey through college.