A Parent’s Perspective: Why I Give to Trinity University As college costs increase, so does student debt. Statistics tell us that student debt negatively impacts graduates’ career choices, postpones the pursuit of postgraduate degrees, and delays students from supporting themselves. The University funds scholarships with donor gifts, reducing student debt for our graduates. I donate to Trinity because my money helps support the next generation of students. I also give because annual contributions to Trinity’s operating budget will help sustain regular programs, and boost innovative programs—all contributing to Trinity’s prestigious reputation. Our new graduates benefit from these distinctions as they enter the workforce or graduate school, a thought I keep in mind as a mother because three of my four daughters are now Trinity alumnae. Each of my Trinity daughters was accepted to prestigious graduate schools: Maddy ’12 received her master’s in museum studies from NYU last May and is now a collection manager with the Museum of the City of New York; Aly ’10 attended University of Texas School of Public Health and is now coaching volleyball at Trinity; and, Audrey ’15 will be entering Vanderbilt in the fall to pursue her master’s. I attribute a part of their success to the cachet that a degree from Trinity offers.
I also want to ensure the University’s future success because I value my liberal arts degree. Trinity’s liberal arts programs transform students into well-rounded individuals by exposing them to philosophy, communication, and the arts. My liberal arts degree taught me to look for creative and innovative solutions to problems, improved my critical thinking, and sharpened my communications skills. I also donate specifically to our athletics programs because I recognize the value of athletics as an integral part of the college experience—and as a professional employer, I value student-athletes. The majority of our student-athletes will go pro in something other than sports. But they will apply life lessons they’ve learned as student-athletes to their professional lives. Our support ensures that each studentathlete receives the Trinity experience. To that end, I have gladly agreed to chair the Athletics Committee for the Parent Leadership Council and I am always interested in hearing how Trinity can continue to offer our students a rewarding experience. -Kay Hazelwood ’82, P ’10, ’12 & ’15 Parent Leadership Council, Athletics Chair
Above: The Hazelwood family poses at 2015 Commencement. PARENT GIVING BY THE
NUMBERS 2014-2015 FISCAL YEAR
23.5%
PARENT PARTICIPATION
1,136
# OF GIFTS & PLEDGES BY HOUSEHOLD
398
NEW PARENT DONORS BY HOUSEHOLD
$603,832 RAISED IN GIFTS & PLEDGES