Bella Lungren, a senior education major, smiled as she surveyed the Kennedy Union ballroom, filled with scholarship donors and her classmates whose lives have been transformed through their generous gifts.
“This crowd is a bit different from the one I’m used to. Most of my days are spent with 19 7-year-olds, many of whom think it’s wild that their teacher lives at school,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.
“I was once a 7-year-old in Minnesota, surrounded by the people and the places I loved,” Bella, emcee for the annual Scholarship Celebration, shared with the crowd. “With an aunt and uncle who attended UD, I had heard stories about days spent on porches with friends and the closeness they felt with both professors and peers, painting a picture of Dayton as a place where community wasn’t just a word. It was a way of life.”
Bella holds the Senator Richard H. Finan Scholarship in Urban Teacher Education. At the brunch, she had the honor of sitting with Dick and his wife, Joan, and personally expressing her gratitude. Their scholarship has played a pivotal role in her UD journey, which has led her to a second-grade classroom in West Carrollton, where she works with students on individualized education plans and supports those struggling with dyslexia.
At the podium, she spoke from her heart to all the donors in the room: “Your support has been more than financial. It has inspired me to continue serving, motivated by the belief that a community’s strength lies in the care we show each other. Because of you, my journey has been one rooted in purpose and opportunities, and I am deeply grateful.” She made this president so proud of the way she eloquently articulated the importance of scholarship donors to our University and captured the essence of our UD community.
Two other students, Matthew Himes and Anna Capaci, each took a turn at the podium to share how scholarships have helped them discover their vocations and chase their dreams.
I told UD’s loyal supporters that we could have filled the room with thousands of similar stories from our students. UD is a place where students are not only supported but also challenged to become the best version of themselves. Without scholarships, talented students like Bella, Matthew, and Anna might not have the opportunity to choose a high-quality, holistic education at UD — an experience rich in relationships and personal growth — over other, less rewarding options.
Last fiscal year, approximately 1,600 students received nearly $9.4 million in donor-funded scholarship support, and we established 16 new endowed scholarships.
To highlight why affordability and access continue to be our top philanthropy priority, consider this: approximately 30 percent of prospective students say that an additional $5,000 to $15,000 in aid would have been the deciding factor in choosing UD over another school.
But, as always, our students express it best. The front-row Red Scare students proudly held up a “We (Heart) Donors” sign before a sold-out UD Arena crowd at a men’s basketball game. During a shared meal, students had the chance to thank scholarship donors, sharing their hopes and dreams and expressing their deep gratitude for making it all possible.
As Thanksgiving approaches, my heart, too, is full of gratitude.