Emmick wants alumni to have plenty of chances to hear from Elmhurst students who depend on scholarships. Alumni donors have always had the opportunity to meet the students they are supporting, but this campaign will also be connecting students and alumni through a series of online videos and conversations. The aim is to allow students to explain in their own words how important scholarship funding is to their plans for the future. “Our students are truly impressive, and hearing from them directly is the most persuasive way to make a case for funding the scholarships that will help them,” Emmick said. “They are our best advocates.” Endya Clark hopes her fellow alumni will support the campaign for scholarships. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if people didn’t believe in investing in the future,” she said. “Scholarships are vital.” Elmhurst welcomes your support. To make your scholarship gift, go to give.elmhurst.edu.
Friends and Mentors With a close-knit family and a tendency toward shyness, Estrella Vargas ’18 knew she wanted to attend a small college close to home. So she chose Elmhurst—and her world opened up. “Coming here, trying diΩerent classes and meeting inspirational faculty pointed me in exciting directions,” she says. She ultimately decided to pursue three majors— intercultural studies, political science and urban studies. Even more transformational, she went far beyond her comfort zone and traveled to Prague, where her career goals came into focus. In Prague, Estrella’s group visited the American embassy and met a diplomat. “I realized I’d like to be a diplomat, too, to help improve people’s lives through policy,” she says. Estrella is proud to have received several scholarships and feels indebted to the donors who made it possible for her to attend Elmhurst and pursue her dreams. “I’ve met such important friends and mentors here,” she says. “My European trip crystallized my studies and career. All of that was possible because people who didn’t even know me believed in my potential.”
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A Passion for Advocacy Callen Williams ’17 has a commitment to advocating on behalf of marginalized groups and individuals. A native New Yorker, he chose Elmhurst College largely because of the College’s connection with the UCC, a denomination that has a strong focus on social justice. “I was raised attending a UCC church and school,” says Callen, a senior. “Our pastor admired Elmhurst College and recommended it to me.” At Elmhurst, Callen has found plenty of support for his interest in social justice. An intercultural studies major, he’s a member of the Black Student Union and HABLAMOS. He’s also collaborating with staΩ members to plan a student tour of Civil Rights landmarks next summer. “When we actually see these landmarks, it will raise our awareness and deepen our connection to these truly transformative events in our history,” he says. After graduating, Callen hopes to continue his education and maybe even earn a Ph.D. His long-term goals include working with companies and organizations to help them reach underserved populations. Callen says he’s grateful for the scholarships that made it possible for him to attend Elmhurst College. “Without scholarships, there would be no Elmhurst College for me,” he says. “And without Elmhurst College, I might never have found my passion to advocate on behalf of others.”