From our alumni Association
In my past letters, I’ve tried to explain the goals of the UD Alumni Association, how it functions and how you can get involved. Now, as I write my last letter to you, I want to highlight one of the association’s greatest accomplishments, the Alumni Scholars Endowment. Since 1998, the association has contributed over $1.3 million, mainly from its MBNA/Bank of America affinity card earnings, to endow merit-based tuition scholarships for incoming students. These are top students being pursued by many prestigious universities.
You may be wondering why the Alumni Association would invest so much into incoming students who may or may not have legacy ties to UD. The answer is simple; we must invest in future students if we want to invest in the future of the University. Every alumnus was once a student and has an opportunity to give back of their time, talent and treasure in the future.
These scholarships have such a tremendous impact on the recipients. I also received scholarships to attend the University, so I truly understand how life changing they are. Here are comments from two of our current Alumni Scholars:
“My receipt of this award was indeed a deciding factor in my choice to attend the University. I have trouble imagining myself happy anywhere else.” – Steven Foltz '11
“As the daughter of a UD alumnus, I am proud to be a Blue Hen, and the funds provided to me by your scholarship have enabled me to expand my horizons. With the burden of financial stress lifted, I am able to concentrate on getting the most out of my courses and pursuing my dream of becoming a French professor.” – Theresa Brock '11
This is just a small sampling of students who have been helped by our alumni community, and I know we will continue to help students with your continued support of our affinity programs. Although my term as Alumni Association president is ending, I plan to remain involved because I want to give back to the University that provided me with an excellent education, life-long friends, leadership experiences and fond memories. I hope you will continue to find ways to give back as well.
Sincerely,
Shanté Stargell Hastings ’00EG
President, UD Alumni Association
