Stewardship event highlights impact of student scholarships
J
MUâs 29th annual Stewardship event brought donors together with students, faculty members and university leaders in the spirit of giving March 18 and 19. Students were the stars of the hour as they shared the impact of scholarships on their Madison Experience. The event, âUp Close and Virtual,â consisted of two Zoom sessions intended to celebrate the relationships between donors and the impact of their giving. Mary (â67) and George Vetrovec hosted the March 18 kickoff event, which included opportunities to mix and mingle, share a themed drink over conversation and enjoy musical performances by JMU student ensembles. The event concluded with a virtual toast to student scholarships. During the March 19 main event, more than 175 attendees heard from some of the student beneficiaries of the scholarships. âAs a first-generation Mexican-American child, I thought I had to work harder than others to earn respect and promotions,â said freshman psychology major Kathleen Arenas Diaz, a graduate of the Valley Scholars program. âI believed scholarships were only for other kids more privileged than I was.â When Diaz was accepted into Valley Scholars, âit felt like a dream come true,â she said. Diaz recently secured a research assistant position with the psychology department. âAlready, Iâm gaining real, hands-on experience with the career I wish to pursue,â she said. âI will continue to keep working hard, knowing I have the support from you all to be my best.â Isabel Romov, a junior biotechnology major and JMUâs inaugural Beckman Scholar, said if not for âAs a first-genher College of Science and Mathematics scholarship, she might eration Mexicanhave missed out on the opporAmerican child, I tunity to research treatments for thought I had to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, work harder than an inherited disease that causes arrhythmias and thickens the others to earn walls of the ventricles in the heart. respect and proâBecause of COVID-19, I motions. I believed found myself struggling to find scholarships were and fund a place to stay in Haronly for other kids risonburg,â Romov said. Her scholarship helped bridge the gap. more privileged âNow Iâm in the lab all the time. than I was.â Thatâs where I want to be. This is the kind of work I want to do.â â KATHLEEN ARENAS DIAZ
8
M A D ISON
M AG A Z I N E
(From top, LâR): âUp Close and Virtualâ kickoff event hosts George and Mary (â67) Vetrovec; scholarship recipients Kathleen Arenas Diaz, Isabel Romov, Belinda Addae, Chris Jones and Corinne Martin.
Belinda Addae (â21), who majored in intelligence analysis with minors in political science and Honors interdisciplinary studies, almost didnât get to attend JMU at all. As a child of undocumented immigrants, her path to a college education was far from guaranteed. âJMU made it a point to say, âWe want you here,ââ she said. âI have gotten to enjoy the full JMU experience, including the luxury of exploring myself and learning about the things that fuel my passions,â Addae said, âsuch as religious terrorism and the roles that women play in those spaces.â Chris Jones (â21), who majored in engineering and was a Centennial Scholar, said the financial assistance he received at JMU allowed him to pursue four minorsâAfrican, African American and Diaspora Studies; geographic science; mathematics; and physics for engineersâas well as mentorship and study-abroad opportunities. After graduation, he hopes to work in international development to help struggling communities. âReceiving my scholarships has truly changed my life,â Jones said. âIt has provided me with financial security that I have not felt in a very long