Members of the College of Education Alumni Board at Homecoming 2016
Newly Established Alumni Board Scholarship Fund Continues Tradition
For several years, the Michigan State University College of Education Alumni Association has awarded scholarships to worthy students with financial need. These scholarships were funded by membership dues generated by the association and managed by the college’s Alumni Board of Directors.
Recently, however, MSU stopped collecting dues for its Alumni Association, focusing instead on encouraging annual donations to the university in the areas alumni are most passionate about. This created an opportunity for our alumni board to establish a new fund that would empower you to make direct, tax-deductible donations for the specific purpose of supporting MSU College of Education students.
The board is passionate about supporting students because they understand the financial burden our students carry on the road to becoming outstanding educators and health professionals. The yearlong internship component of the Teacher Preparation Program can pose a particularly difficult financial challenge. Board members, and many educational leaders, agree the college best prepares these students for the teaching profession. According to Mark Dziatczak, deputy superintendent in the Troy School District and member of the board since 2011, “these graduates are ready to teach on day one.”
To strengthen student success, board members feel it is important to continue providing financial support through board-supported scholarships. This past year, scholarships funded by dues were awarded to five students in the amount of $2,500 each. The scholarship amount was determined before changes were made to the funding structure. During the dues-to-donation transition, the board agreed to award five students each with $1,000 scholarships for the 2017-18 academic cycle. Three of the scholarships will specifically support students interested in urban education, global education or kinesiology, while the remaining two are open to other College of Education areas of interest. The board seeks to build the newly established scholarship fund through donations in order to sustain the scholarship program and restore past scholarship amounts.
2016-17 scholarship recipients, front, left to right: Alison Goyings, Karli Lisecki, Grace Rozanski and Jasmine Hunter (Jessica Hervey not pictured), celebrate with members of the alumni board (back row).
Ways to help
- Make a gift online to the College of Education Alumni Board Scholarships fund.
- Contact the College of Education Advancement Office, educdev@msu.edu or (517) 432-1983, to discuss how you can support the scholarships.
Get Involved
The College of Education Alumni Board is a group of graduates representing a variety of professions, interests and geographic locations. They work together to engage with and support the needs of fellow alumni, and to support initiatives that advance the college. If you or someone you know may be interested in joining the board starting next academic year, please complete and return the nomination form by March 20, 2017. Go to: education.msu.edu/alumni/board