Each year, scholarship recipients express their gratitude to scholarship donors and describe the impact of the scholarships they receive. Here’s what we learned reading the latest batch.
1
They use one word over and over: “Proud.” “I am proud to be part of this legacy of excellence,” wrote one scholarship recipient. “Being a Spider means being part of a network of people who are passionate about making a difference — and that’s something I’m proud to represent,” wrote another from Thailand. In note after note after note, one specific phrase recurs: “Proud to be a Spider.”
2
They really love their professors. Words like “amazing,” “friendly,” and “incredible” show up a lot. “Every single professor I have had thus far seems to really care about helping their students succeed,” a sophomore wrote in a comment other recipients consistently echoed.
3
They pursue opportunities they hadn’t considered. Over and over, students say that the support they get from scholarships frees them to take risks, go new places, and try new things. As one senior wrote, “Richmond has taught me that I can and should dream big, and your contribution has allowed me to do so.”
4
They see care in every corner of campus. Students repeatedly cite a wide range of programs and people whose support they feel, everyone from the D-hall staff member who swipes them in every morning to the career services adviser connecting them to an internship. One student, a senior, summed it up well. “It truly takes a village, and how blessed am I to have all of you in mine,” she wrote. “To be a Spider is to pursue the light of knowledge and to rally the community along the way.”
5
They recognize how important philanthropy is to their Richmond experience. One sophomore spoke for many when she wrote, “Because of you, I am making my dreams a reality.” Many describe their scholarship as not just support for study, but an embrace by a community they cherish. Another student wrote, “Richmond has truly become a home away from home for me, and it would not be possible to be here without your help.”
Read more stories about standout Spiders who have benefited from donor generosity here.
