I had the honor of delivering the student remarks at the November 30 scholarship banquet in Indianapolis during Executive Council Weekend. I was so grateful for the opportunity to do so.
That night, we gathered to affirm the scholarships from our beloved alma mater and celebrate each and every one of our stories. To the alums in the room that night, thank you, thank you for your commitment and devotion to IU and the success of my generation and future generations to come.
The nervousness I felt leading up to that moment on stage allowed me to take a step a back and reflect on my own experiences, my own achievements, and own my reasons for choosing IU. My story began with my willingness to step outside of my comfort zone and be uncomfortable in situations. I learned quickly how every opportunity has a lesson you can learn from it.
Beginning with freshman year I became involved in Greek Life as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. Sophomore year, I joined the IU Student Association, now renamed IU Student Government. The following summer I participated in a 6-week summer Study Abroad Program in London. I then returned to Bloomington for welcome week and then traveled to spend the semester in Washington D.C. in the Fall 2017 Washington Leadership Program cohort. I returned to campus at the beginning of this year and have now become deeply involved with the IU Alumni Association.
My overall experience at IU has seen many highs and lows. Lows that have taught me more about myself than I could ever realize, and highs that have brought me new perspectives and viewpoints. Through all the ups and downs, I have met genuine individuals, who have supported and influenced me more than they probably ever realized. I have grown into a strong student leader on campus out of my admiration of them. The opportunity to pursue an education at IU was purely the blessing of being born a Hoosier. The pride I have for IU will never fade and I would never regret my decision to move three hours south of my hometown, Elkhart, IN to begin my life story in Bloomington.
Throughout my journey, I have expressed how much we as students were at a disadvantage when it came to enacting long-term change related to the University. Most undergrads are limited by their four years (or five for those who took advantage of every Two-Dollar Tuesday near campus). But my experience working with the Alumni Association has taught me that that statement does not hold true. This is because even though we are graduating and moving into the next stage in our lives, IU will always be a part of us. As alumni, we are able to continue to provide our service to our prestigious alma mater and continue to build a legacy of our own beyond our undergraduate years.
For example, I would like to highlight the legacy of someone who I most recently learned about. Mr. Claude T. Rich, an individual who collaborated with five IU Presidents and was known to more alumni on a first-name basis than any other person. Claude mixed his superb talents with plain, ordinary, hard work to make an outstanding contribution to the University. He began as a student leader, and later provided one the most remarkable services as a spokesman for the state-supported colleges of Indiana in its legislative halls. He became the alumni secretary in 1948, during the administration of his cousin Herman B Wells, and throughout his service, his level of accountability and effective management were the hallmarks of his leadership. His mark of excellence is of such high caliber, and it stands as an inspiration to all who serve the university.
As one of this year’s Claude T. Rich scholarship recipients, it has made all the difference to me. It has empowered me as a first-generation college student without much financial support. I have always had to handle everything alone when it comes to my finances, leaning on my ability to balance my academics and maintain certain GPA requirements, while working various part-time jobs, and pursuing career development opportunities. It is the vigilance and loyalty of alumni that has helped provide opportunities for students like me who have worked tirelessly, and who are willing to work hard as they mature and grow academically and individually.
Scholarships such as the Claude T. Rich scholarship make a difference for students like myself, and in doing so, make a difference in helping shape Indiana University and the world beyond IU.