GIVING
FEATURE
Meet our donors DU alumni and friends transform the future of students
“I started an endowed scholarship at Davenport University for women in technology because I want to support more women in technology and security. I have twin daughters and I want them to know about the possibilities in the technology field. I had a great experience at Davenport and this is my way of helping and giving back.”
“I donated to Davenport softball to be able to give back to the next generation of athletes. When I think of Davenport softball, I have nothing but good thoughts and memories. It gave me new friends, new experiences and a couple hardto-learn life lessons. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great program. I hope that any athlete who has the opportunity to play for DU like I did gets to enjoy it and make unforgettable memories.”
A career takes flight
T
ori Gann started flying in high school. She’s now focused on landing a career as a business aviation pilot.
Gann is enrolled in Davenport University’s Bachelor of Business Administration program with a specialty in Aviation Management. This program is offered as part of an exclusive partnership with Northwestern Michigan College. “I take a blend of courses at DU and NMC,” Gann said. “The NMC classes are generally aviation-focused or more general. My DU classes are businessfocused, like international business and project management. It is a cool blend because it lowers the bill, but I am still getting a high-quality education.” The program is offered through the University Center in Traverse City, Michigan.
Anas Alkatib, ’12, ’14
Kristin Melvin, ’10
Kristina (Krum) Stacey, ’11
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration reports that only 6 percent of active commercial pilots are women, according to Alex Bloye, director and academic chair of Northwestern Michigan College’s Aviation Division.
“Even more astonishing, in 2017 there were only 25 women in the U.S. under the age of 20 that held a commercial pilot certificate. Tori was 19 when she became a commercial pilot, and just 20 when she became a certified flight instructor,” Bloye said. “We are proud of the professional Tori has become. She is a gifted pilot and an inspiring teacher, and we can’t wait to see where her career takes her.” In the summer, Gann completed an internship in Amway’s Aviation Department — spending time in the maintenance, finance and technician departments. She also will observe a pilot recurrent training class at FlightSafety in Georgia for a week. “Seeing each department helps me see how companies operate. It helps me see the big picture,” she said. Gann says flying keeps her humble. “No two flights are ever the same,” she said. “The airplane doesn’t care how you feel. You have to go into every flight ready to learn. It makes you aware of the fact that you do make mistakes and it makes you work through the mistakes to become a better pilot.”
The center in Traverse City has been working with NMC pilots for more than 20 years, according to Campus Director Alyssa Irani. “Tori is the first student to take advantage of the opportunity to be awarded credit for earning the Certified Flight Instructor rating,” she said. “Through this BBA, we’ve reduced both the time and cost of degree completion while promoting the opportunity to earn flight hours through the CFI. Students will be ready to start their aviation careers quickly with the advantage of flight instructor experience and a high-quality degree in business.”
“The reason I gave back to the softball program through the Panther Athletic Challenge was because it was a huge part of my life for almost eight years — two years as a player and six years on the coaching staff. I wanted to be able to give back in hopes that my donation may help other student-athletes reach their goals. I greatly enjoyed my time at Davenport as a studentathlete and employee. Davenport will always be home to me. Being a DU graduate has helped me reach my career goals and build a foundation for my family.”
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