In the words of Booker T. Washington, “nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” Thanks to the collective power of the Broad College of Business community, hard-working students are able to reach higher academically.

On Friday, September 16, Broad College of Business students and honorable donors gathered at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts for a luncheon to celebrate academic scholarships bestowed upon the college. As a result of donor support, more than 150 scholarships were awarded last year, amounting to more than $307,000 toward these students’ tuition.

Students received scholarship assistance based on their academic merit and achievements, Broad extracurricular activities, and need.

“It is because of the scholarship I received that I was able to study abroad in London last summer, which led to the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant on another abroad program this winter,” said Morgan Lalonde (BA Marketing ’17). “Having these merit-based scholarships encourages students to work harder, get more involved, and strive to be recognized for what you put into your education,” she said.

While most of the donors are Broad College alumni, some continue to give to the college for very personal reasons. Lori Whipp-Weaver explained that she did not attend the Broad College, but her father, a Lansing commercial realtor, did – and it held a special place in his heart. “I have a scholarship in my father’s memory. He always believed in giving a hand to people who deserved and needed it, and giving to the Broad students is something that will always be in my family’s legacy,” she said.

After a guest appearance from Sparty, Dean Sanjay Gupta addressed guests and spoke about the importance of one day making an impact on the lives of others as business professionals and Broad ambassadors. “What I ask of you is that someday, when your career has blossomed, to think back to this point and remember how much it was made possible in part by a gift from a donor whom you had never met personally, and consider doing the same for someone else,” he said.