SIUE School of Business Celebrates Life Changing Impact of Donor Support through Scholarships
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business celebrated academic achievement and recognized the value of donor support at its annual Scholarships and Awards Program held Wednesday, April 10 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom.
More than 100 students received scholarships valued at more than $200,000. School of Business Dean Tim Schoenecker, PhD, noted that the School’s incredible award total has nearly tripled over the past four years.
“It’s crucial that we continue to secure additional scholarship funds, both annual and endowed, so that we can continue to attract great students to our highly regarded business programs,” Schoenecker said. “We extend our sincere appreciation to our donors. Without their generosity, some of these outstanding students may not be enrolled in our School.”
“Student recipients,” he added, “I encourage you to try to form a relationship with your scholarship sponsor. I also ask you to reflect on the meaning of this scholarship to you, and consider how you may be able to play that same role in a future student’s life.”
SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook, PhD, echoed Schoenecker’s remarks on the life-changing impact scholarships make in students’ lives. He emphasized that data shows when considering an individual’s overall life financial position, and financial health and wellness, college access and college graduation are the number one predictor in terms of positive outcomes.
“There’s an interesting cycle that takes place when people give,” Pembrook explained. “Donors provide scholarships, scholarships attract wonderful students, wonderful students become great alumni and do tremendous things in the community, and the cycle continues. Donors, we thank you for the difference you have made in our students’ lives.”
Awards were presented to students studying in each of the School’s academic departments, including accounting, business administration, computer management and information systems (CMIS), economics and finance, and management and marketing.
Among the awards was the inaugural Gateway to Innovation Scholarship which was presented to Jenna Winningham, a junior CMIS major. The scholarship aims to encourage and inspire students in the fields of information systems and computer science. Additionally, nine students were honored with the Delta Sigma Pi Key Award for achieving a 4.0 grade point average.
The event’s guest speaker was SIUE Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker, MPA. Walker spoke of the impact others made by investing in him, just as he, and other donors and donor organizations are doing for current students.
“When you give to an SIUE scholarship, you are investing in our students and their future,” said Walker, a 24-year member of the Edwardsville Rotary Club which provides two $4,000 scholarships annually to SIUE business students. “You make a dream of a college education a reality for many young people. You invest in our community, state, and indeed, the world. You help us educate and prepare the men and women who are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. Investing in our students is what shaping a changing world is all about. You are changing lives.”
Walker encouraged students to make sure they are a good investment.
“Students, as you leave today, please know that what you have been given is more than just money,” he said. “These people have made a deliberate decision to invest in your education. Don’t be a bad investment. Make the most of your education, and someday when you can, make a pledge to fund at least one scholarship in return. You all have the power to change lives.”
He concluded by fulfilling his speech’s original goal of describing how to get a good night’s sleep.
“A friend of mine once said, there are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers,” Walker explained. “Takers might eat better, but givers sleep better. I hope you all have a good night’s rest!”
Photos: More than 100 students received scholarship awards valued at over $200,000 during the SIUE School of Business Scholarships and Awards Program.
Nine School of Business students were honored with the Delta Sigma Pi Key Award for achieving a 4.0 grade point average.
Guest speaker Rich Walker encouraged students to be a good investment.
