News Release
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Alumni Relations
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19720
alumni@wilmu.edu
Where are they Now?
Success Stories of Past Scholarship Recipients - Made Possible By Your Generosity
Wilmington University is honored to be able to partner with faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to help students get a quality education. The generosity of our community, both within the school and outside, literally makes dreams come true. The following stories are just a small glimpse into the impact that our supporter’s make. Please take a moment to hear from a couple of our past scholarship recipients about where they are now because of the WilmU community.
Marie Hock Rosema (Marketing Management/MBA, Class of 2011)
“I’d like to thank the donors that provided my scholarship. Their donation enabled me to further my education. I was able to pursue my passion, Graphic Design, and at the same time, afford the tuition to complete my master’s degree in Marketing Management. I feel I received a quality education for both my undergraduate and graduate studies at Wilmington University. I am now married, and my husband is serving in the Air Force. We live in Guam, USA, a strategically located island in the South Pacific. Guam plays an important role in our nation's foreign affairs by providing a vital military presence in the region. Upon arrival in Guam, I landed a job at a private academy tutoring Korean students English. Although not my major, I would not have gotten a job so quickly without having the benefit of my education. Near the end of their school year, I was able to teach them graphic design for fun.
I have started a new job working at the Naval Hospital in Guam. I was selected by the hospital commander to work with the Public Affairs Office, creating branding designs for the Navy Hospital, as well as working with the transition team creating pieces for the new hospital opening in 2014. These designs will be used throughout the hospital for every type of presentation needed, be it Power Point, stationary, or letterhead. Also, I was asked by my husband's squadron to develop an advertising campaign for use in future events.
Guam, USA is where America starts the day and it is certainly an adventure! Guam is a tropical island, with palm trees, blue skies, clear water, and beautiful sunsets. There are so many things to do on this island, including scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking. We have been able to travel to Hawaii, Australia, Saipan, Thailand, and Bali Indonesia with plans to go to Korea, Japan, China and Palau in the near future. Graphic design on this side of the world is much different than that in the states. Billboards are much bigger, more colorful, and messages are much louder (especially in Bangkok!). It would be great to get into international marketing and have the chance to design advertisements seen around the world! I again wish to thank the donors that provided me an opportunity of a lifetime. I feel honored to have been selected for the scholarship. Being recognized for my accomplishments demonstrates to me that Wilmington University believes in lifelong learning.”
Austin Lorenzoni (Allied Health/Business Management, Class of 2011)
“The transition from an academic journey, into a career occupation can be a blur. Students eagerly shed their adult academic workload, to embrace the professional garb of their hopeful job of choice. The hours of study, transitional jobs, and management of resources gets talked about less and less as we mature; often times forgetting what we had to go through, and more importantly how we were helped, by our friends, family, and academic institution. Financial aid is becoming a “diamond in the rough” for many students, even more seemingly for those who desperately need it. For me personally, the scholarship I was generously awarded made the difference between hitting the workplace at a sprint, rather than wading through a mire of debt after removing my cap and gown.
Just recently I have reached my four year anniversary at ATI Physical Therapy as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). After earning my foundational clinical skills at Delaware Technical and Community College, Wilmington University gave me the opportunity to complete my undergraduate degree in Allied Health Business Management. The practical skills in leadership, technology, and interpersonal professionalism that Wilmington University’s programs taught, have been directly relayed into my success in my career. The memories and experiences gained at Wilmington University cannot be replaced, including attending the acclaimed Green and White Scholarship Ball as an ambassador to welcome and thank our generous scholarship donors over an evening of fine dining and dancing.
In addition to my workplace milestones since Wilmington University, I have been happily married since October of 2011; at the same time as our wedding, we were both able to buy our first home together. While children are hopefully in our future, we have been enjoying life to its fullest; volunteering at church, The Journey in Newark, DE (me playing guitar, her in the kid’s ministry); traveling; catching up with friends and making new ones.
To reflect on my journey at Wilmington University, it humbles me with gratitude in receiving the 40th Anniversary Scholarship. Not only did this ease some financial stress off of me, it gave me a chance to have a burden-free chance at graduating into my professional career. My wife and I often reflect on how thankful and lucky we are to have such a blessed beginning to our lives together: our faith, career, health, home, and education (she also is a WilmU alumni). I assure you, the donations and consideration for the WilmU scholarship program do get transferred to qualified students who desperately need them. Not only will you be potentially making or breaking a decision for a student’s future, but you are giving other students a chance to begin to forge a new one (as I have with the generous donations from people like you). Thank You!”
Wilmington University is incredibly proud of the accomplishments of all of our Alumni. We continue to grow and develop as a University largely because of the reputation earned by those who represent us well in the workplace. Many of these stories are only possible because of the benevolence of those who are willing to contribute to the Annual Scholarship Fund, which goes directly to providing education to student’s in need. Are you willing to be a part of a success story in the making? If so, please click here to get involved!