While experts laud the virtues of charitable giving for those on the receiving end, there are benefits for those who give back as well. As it turns out, making a difference can create a sense of purpose. Perhaps that’s to be expected when your generosity produces a life-changing impact.
Luckily, scores of creative, innovative, and deserving Lawrence Technological University students have had their lives changed by donor generosity. We thought you might be interested in hearing from a few of them.
Pushing through tough times
Anthony Nguyen is an Edward Donley Scholar whose parents emigrated from Vietnam to the U.S. in 2001. While he was born in the U.S., with opportunities his parents never had, there were still tough times ahead. Not only did his dad pass away from COVID-19, but his mom’s earnings relied on a commission-based job as a nail technician.
“There was no guarantee of a fixed income,” Nguyen said.
Overcoming the stigma of an immigrant family was also difficult. “I had to push myself twice as hard to prove that I belonged.”
Thankfully, a high school teacher counseled Nguyen to believe in himself. He also encouraged him to apply to Lawrence Tech. “Now I’m pursuing engineering with the same passion he saw in me, driven to make a difference just like he did.”
Nguyen could not be more grateful. “I’ve grown up watching my parents work to the bone to provide me with every opportunity. When I was awarded this scholarship, it felt like an enormous weight was lifted. Not just for me, but for my family, who sacrificed so much in support of my education.”
Pursuing the dream
Jack Nunez grew up in a low-income home with four siblings and a single mother who taught middle school science.
Needless to say, money was tight. Nunez’s income from a part-time job went toward the family’s expenses instead of a college education fund. But he was not letting anything get in the way of his dreams.
“I overcame these struggles with a huge amount of blind faith in myself and in God, and the knowledge that I really can get further in life if I keep on the right path,” Jack said.
Thanks to a full-ride scholarship, that is exactly what the mechanical engineering major is doing. “Without the Edward Donley Scholar program, I simply would not be able to attend a high-quality, prestigious university like Lawrence Tech.”
He plans to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering after he graduates. “My ultimate dream is to work for an aerospace-type company like NASA or SpaceX, developing systems to support life on another planet.”
Becoming her best self
Ella Smith majored in civil engineering with the help of several independent donor scholarships.
The high-achieving student played on the women’s golf team, recording her first-ever hole-in-one when she was a junior. She even found productive ways to move forward after periods of anxiety and depression, finding rewards as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers student group, the sorority Chi Omego Rho, the Student Athlete Leadership Team, and the concrete canoe competition team.
“I was able to find myself and expand my knowledge in so many ways,” Smith said. “While I might have joined the civil engineering society for my major, I gained friends, mentors, and experience from that group and every other organization I joined as well.”
And the generosity of donors made it all possible. “I would not be able to devote time to these organizations that I love without the scholarships. From the bottom of my heart, I can only say thank you!”
If you would like to help more deserving students gain access to an LTU education, please contact Kevin Finn at KFinn@ltu.edu or give to a scholarship fund here.
By: Pam Houghton
