Inspire, Spring 2011

advanc ing cedarv i l le When I was a student Phonathon caller, I enjoyed speaking with people who had been supporting the University for years and others who were deciding to give for the first time. I saw the impact scholarships had made in my friends’ lives, and I promised myself, “When I graduate, I’m going to give back to Cedarville.” I graduated in 2009 with a nursing degree, and I love being a pediatric nurse. My profession allows me to care for patients’ basic physical needs, but it also provides opportunities to share the love of Christ at a time when people are most vulnerable. I had such kind professors at Cedarville who loved me and prepared me to minister to patients, and I wanted to start giving back right away. Mark Becknell ’09 and I established an annually funded scholarship to help nursing students. We hope this award will encourage students with financial need to stay motivated in their studies to become great nurses. I believe anyone who had a positive experience at Cedarville has a responsibility to help others have a similar experience. I hope this award will be as much of a blessing to receive as it has been to give. Clare Jackson ’09, RN Dayton Children’s Hospital Providing the Missing Piece There’s no question that scholarships make a significant difference for many outstanding students with financial need. Sometimes they come as an encouragement at just the right moment in a student’s education. Sometimes they come as an 11th-hour saving grace, allowing a student to finish the semester. The financial assistance needed to rescue a student on the brink of withdrawing from school is often less than you might think. According to Fred Merritt, executive director of financial aid, a $2,500 scholarship makes a substantial difference for many of these students. Some of these awards are provided by donors who have taken their giving to another level. Annually funded scholarships are an attractive option for individuals, families, or groups of alumni friends who wish to deepen their investment in Cedarville students but may not be ready to fund a scholarship endowment. Annually funded scholarships allow donors to put a personal touch on their gifts. A donor may choose to name the award and set general criteria so the award will be given in a way that is meaningful to both the donor and the recipient. Donors also receive personal correspondence from student recipients, and they are invited to attend the annual Legacy Banquet at homecoming to meet the students they are helping. “A scholarship is a tangible way to make a difference for a deserving student with financial need,” said Jen Castellani ’02, associate director of annual giving and a scholarship donor herself. “It means a lot when you can meet the student you are helping and know that God used your gift to touch a life.” Learn more about establishing an annually funded scholarship. Contact Jen Castellani ’02 at jcastellani@cedarville.edu or call 1-800-766-1115. “A scholarship is a tangible way to make a difference for a deserving student with financial need.” 26 spring 2011