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Over 400 alumni, community members, students and faculty participated in the first Scholars and Donors event, giving students the opportunity to thank scholarship donors for assisting them with education costs.
This is the first time CMU has done an event like this. Lynn Lickers, who helped coordinate the event, said it is the “first hopefully annual Scholars and Donors event.”
Scholars ranged from nursing and political science majors to English and history and everything in between. Jessica Lane, a senior in the art department, received an art scholarship and was excited to be able to attend. “I want to thank the donors for providing me with the opportunity to further my education,” she said.
Amber Thompson, a sophomore looking to enter the radiology program, was awarded the Goffredis scholarship.
“I think [Scholars and Donors] is really a great opportunity,” Thompson said. “You actually get to see the person who’s helping pay for school.”
A positive sentiment was echoed by several other students as well as the donors.
“I’m not sure why they didn’t do this before,” Linda Reid, who contributes to the Bacon Family Foreign Student scholarship, said. “Before, they used to just write us a note.”
Many of the donors agreed that they enjoy being able to help the university, and getting to meet the students they have helped made it even more meaningful.
“We support the university because it’s one of the shining stars in the community,” Doug and Jamee Simons, alumni of CMU and owners of Endstrom Candies, said. Their donation helps those in the theater department.
Randy Krause of Century Link agreed.
“Mesa is a customer of ours, so it’s only fair we do business with people who do business with us,” Krause said. “Education advancement is important.” He added that Century Link also desires to “give back to the community.”
With such high feedback, Lickers is excited not only with this year’s turnout, but also for future plans. “We’ve got a very aggressive fundraising goal,” Lickers said. “The number of donors each year will grow, hopefully.”
kirick@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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