November Scholarship Reception Succeeds in Linking Donors and Students

By Gretchen Miller

Over 350 scholarship donors and recipients gathered on November 17, 2009 for UWM’s Fall Scholarship reception hosted by the UWM Foundation. This annual event provides an opportunity for scholarship donors to meet the students who benefit from their generous gifts, and provides recipients with the chance to say “thank you” in person. This year the festivities were again led by UWM Foundation Board of Directors Chair Art Smith. He shared the story of Danielle Washington, an MPS graduate majoring in Biological Sciences. Ms. Washington receives the Mead Witter Foundation Scholarship, and she aspires to attend medical school and then establish her own medical clinic in the City of Milwaukee.  

UWM Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations Patricia A. Borger described the important role scholarships play in the success of our students. UWM Foundation Board Member Allan J. Klotsche, Jr., shared his scholarship story with the overflow crowd at the Union Ballroom. As an alumnus (’94 EMBA, ’87 BBA Marketing), an individual donor (the Allan and Mary Klotsche Scholarship), and the leader of a local corporation donating scholarship gifts, (the Brady Corporation Scholarship), Allan described his motivation for giving back to UWM.

“My wife and I have long realized that we wanted to find the opportunity to give back to our Alma Mater, but figured it was best to get our own children through their college years before investing in others. However, our opinions quickly changed about four years ago after attending a scholarship reception for students who were receiving the J. Martin & Roberta Klotsche International Scholarship. We were so deeply moved by the genuineness of the students’ appreciation and the demonstrable impact that it had on their young careers, we instantly knew we had to figure out a way to get started with establishing a scholarship now.” 

Foundation Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs Tonit Calaway and Jacqueline Herd-Barber facilitated the portion of the reception program in which a dozen student recipients stood and expressed their gratitude for their scholarship gifts. Representing many different academic units and scholarship programs, the students’ remarks held a common theme: scholarships make a difference in students’ lives – by providing financial support, reducing the number of hours of employment, reducing the burden of debt, and providing an important psychological boost. Just knowing that someone cares enough to give has an impact! 

Thank you to all our scholarship donors for their gift of opportunity! Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients, whose futures look prosperous!