The UMKC Women’s Council held its annual reception to celebrate this year’s Graduate Assistance Fund awardees.
Nearly 70 women received funds to support their graduate studies at UMKC. The Women’s Council celebrated 53 years of supporting women in different fields, 新增四个奖项.
校友杰奎琳·汤普森(D.M.A. ’84), who was a GAF recipient in 1981, gave remarks at this year’s reception.
“I thought I was going to have to drop out because I was running out of money,” she said. “GAF基金救了我. It helped me complete my degree and contributed to who I am today.”
The life-changing award inspired Thompson to commit to give back to the Graduate Assistance Fund every year. Years later, when she revisited UMKC, students who received her help recognized her. Meeting these students made her realize how much the impact of her gift, 无论大小, 给他们做的.
“I told myself that I didn’t have to make a lot of waves, but I could be a ripple. If I made enough little ripples, I could make a difference,” Thompson added.
继续创造不同, Thompson also signed an intent form to leave a planned gift to the Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund.
Esther Han is a 音乐学院 student who is working toward her Master of Music degree in piano performance and pedagogy. She is one of the few GAF recipients who received an additional merit award.
“There are not that many fund opportunities for musicians, 所以被选中是件大事,韩说. “It is very special because I am going to Germany to perform with my husband. I wouldn’t be able to go without GAF because of the graduate tuition cost.”
阿门·特肖姆是博士二年级学生.D. student studying cell biology and biophysics. She is working on identifying the impact of certain proteins related to glaucoma. Teshome is a first-time GAF recipient and was also a recipient of an additional merit award.
“这是非常有意义和有益的, knowing that my research is making a difference and being validated,Teshome说. “I feel super motivated to be here, and it’s really helping me push through during research. 因为GAF, I get to attend the annual meeting for the Association of 研究 in Vision and Ophthalmology in Seattle. I would not be able to afford it on my own."
This year, the Women’s Council debuted four new named awards for the Graduate Assistance Fund. They were donated by 世界杯赌场盘口教务长 Jenny Lundgren, Ph.D.; UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D. 还有他的妻子, 苏Agrawal, who is on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Council; 世界杯赌场盘口基金会 President Amanda Davis and former students and associates of Bibie Chronwall, M.Ed., Ph.D.
The fund awards were named after people the donors held close to heart and will help fulfill future generations of women to reach their educational goals and establish careers that will benefit others.
“I’ve been on the selection committee for four years now and have seen the hard work of our students, 以及GAF对他们的影响,苏·阿格拉瓦尔说. “The best part is the principle of the fund won’t be spent, so it will keep growing over time and help more students in the future.”
The Graduate Assistance Fund has distributed more than $2.从开办到现在已经有400万了.