When Macy Purdy ’24 recounts the journey that brought her to the University of Dayton, it starts like many others.

“There are four stoplights in my town. Most pursue a trade or go into the Army upon graduation,” said Purdy. “I believe I’m one of only four in my graduating class to go to college outside of New York.”

But the similarities end there. Purdy’s journey is her own and for her, education isn’t only about being in the classroom. The future CPA deliberately puts herself in situations she could only dream of back home.

“I really just want to push myself as much as I can, not only academically, socially and personally,” said Purdy. “I believe that in order to excel, I also need to put myself somewhere where I have the ability to grow.”

On campus, Purdy is involved with Flyer Consulting, the Hanley Sustainability Fund and the accounting fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi. Beyond Dayton’s borders, she has completed a summer internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Miami and plans to return to its offices again in 2023 for another internship. She is also on track to study abroad for a semester in Ireland.

And while those experiences have helped Purdy grow, they come at a cost.

“I think it's very important to weigh how much you're spending with what you're getting in return,” said Purdy. “Going to the University of Dayton is an investment in your future that not only betters you as a person but also gives you a seal of approval that's going to open a lot of doors.”

“Going to the University of Dayton is an investment in your future that not only betters you as a person but also gives you a seal of approval that's going to open a lot of doors.

For her, and other students like her, that’s where scholarships make a difference.

“I'm very grateful for my family situation. It's a lot better than a lot of other people,” said Purdy. “But I do not think I would be able to go to UD, or have the opportunities I do, without donors.”

Purdy is the recipient of three scholarships. One is the Ernst & Young Accounting Scholarship, which helps accounting majors who have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and plan to join a national public accounting firm after graduation. She is also a Mark and Jane Nocito Scholarship recipient, a fund that supports UD students with financial needs, especially those who are accounting majors. And her summer internship in Miami was possible in part because of the Heffner Internship Endowment, offered through the School of Business Administration, which helped cover Purdy’s housing costs so she could focus on that hands-on learning experience.

“I think what's really important to remember is that it’s not just about monetary gifts being given to students,” said Purdy. “It's also about how they're using that funding to their advantage and bettering the community. Scholarships break a lot of people away from patterns in their life that they were set up to follow.”