Ithaca College

Stephanie Elowson ’08 told a recent Faculty/Staff Campaign rally that the generosity of a scholarship she received had made a world of difference in her IC education—and that she plans to return the favor by joining with classmates to establish the Class of 2008 Scholarship as their senior class gift. Stephanie was one of several scholarship recipients who addressed a gathering of Ithaca College staff and faculty to garner support for the Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship, which will be a collective gift from IC employees to the Campaign for Ithaca College. Read Stephanie’s remarks.

Remarks delivered by Stephanie Elowson ’08 on October 4, 2007:
Good morning, everyone! My name is Stephanie Elowson, and I am a senior double-majoring in business administration (concentration in marketing) and integrated marketing communications. I was honored when Deb [Mohlenhoff, co-chair of the Faculty/Staff Campaign Committee,] asked me to come here this morning and speak with you about the scholarship I earned last spring.

Last semester I was a participant in the IC LA program, where I had the opportunity to take classes while interning in Los Angeles. I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to intern for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and NBC Universal Entertainment’s press and publicity department. The opportunities I had, the people I met, and the things I learned and saw were incredible, and nothing that I will soon forget. It’s programs like these that really let IC students reach their full potential and strive for their dreams while still in college.

On campus I am involved in a variety of organizations and activities, including being the co-chair of the School of Business Deans’ Hosts; an office intern for the Catholic community; a participant in Alternative Spring Break–Hurricane Katrina Relief, New Orleans; a peer leader for the Cross Cultural Leadership Retreat; and a member of the Leadership Scholars program—to name a few. It meant a lot to me when I chose Ithaca College four years ago that I had a campus environment that could satisfy all of my interests as well as provide me with new experiences. That’s one of the things I love most about Ithaca College: it’s the students, faculty/staff/administration, and alumni that give back to this community, whether through the programs, clubs and organizations, or speakers brought to campus, or the scholarships made available to students.

I was very fortunate to receive the Class of 2006 Scholarship. I was most honored because it was students like me who established a fund that would help other students continue their education here at Ithaca College and pursue other academic interests. It’s all about students helping other students, something Ithaca is known for. This scholarship was so meaningful to me. Many of my friends graduated in the class of 2006, and receiving the scholarship their class had established motivated me to want to do the same to help other students. Their class gift left a legacy because it helped a fellow student. We’re investing in each other and helping each other along. To me, that’s why scholarships established by students or the faculty/staff/administration are so important and very meaningful. They come from the people and institution we love most. What we get from each other, we give back in other ways to better this campus and each other.

I believe my fellow students echo my sentiments, and the class of 2008 class gift proves that. We have just voted to establish a scholarship fund to assist students who have credit-bearing, yet unpaid summer experiential learning/internships. These experiences are so meaningful to our education, but the additional cost of paying for the credits while not getting paid for the internship can really inhibit students from pursing these opportunities. We hope that our scholarship will alleviate that worry for students and let them take advantage of the internship of their dreams.

The class of 2006 invested in me and my future here at Ithaca College by establishing a scholarship for undergraduate students. We’re all investing in each other here because we want to help those in our Ithaca College family. That is why the Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship is so crucial and meaningful. To know that the educators and administration we look up to and admire want to further our success invigorates us to strive for and achieve more. I am eternally grateful for the Class of 2006 Scholarship, and I hope this faculty/staff scholarship can assist other students like me.