Students, donors honored at annual Scholarship Dinner

^{By: Veronica Cobos, Newswriting Intern                         communications@bloomfield.edu}

Bloomfield College students and scholarship donors came together for a special evening during the annual Scholarship Dinner Nov. 17 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, N.J.

The event is held every year to help celebrate the hard work student recipients go through to earn such awards and to also give thanks to the donors for their generosity.

Put together by the Office of Institutional Advancement, the event brought together scholarship donors and the recipients of their awards and allowed them to meet and share their stories.

“I think it’s very important for us students to meet the people who are helping us get through school,” said scholarship recipient Aubrey Orr. “They help relieve a lot of stress from the money aspect and allow us to focus more on school.”

The helping hand provided by donors plays a big role in many of the recipients’ lives by helping them pursue their academic and professional dreams at one of New Jersey’s most dynamic institutions.

“It’s a pleasure and privilege to meet the students who work hard and accomplish their dreams,” scholarship donor and Board of Trustees member Joanne Marren said. “I love coming to this event. It’s a treat. I’ve been on the Board and a donor for two years. The importance of college isn't even a question, so it’s great to help out the students.”

Students Dennis Farquaharsen, Edwine Jean-Baptiste and Veronica Cobos had the opportunity to share their inspirational stories with everyone at the dinner with touching speeches that showcased the impact of scholarships.

“Delivering my speech in front of all those great people was the most important thing in my college career,” said Farquaharsen. “You can always tell yourself you're thankful but once you experience something like this, and see the people who don't even know you that take their time and money to help you out is just something amazing. Everyone should experience meeting the people that help them out in such an extensive way.”

Bloomfield College has over 75 annual and endowed scholarships that award more than $500,00 per year to students.

“The Scholarship Dinner is an extraordinary opportunity for donors to meet students who directly benefit from their support,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jackie Bartley. “To see the joy on everyone’s faces around the room throughout the course of the evening is what makes this scholarship dinner such a special event, and also, giving back to such an important cause that impacts not only the students life but his or her family as well. It’s an evening that celebrates our students, our donors and the joy of giving.”

To learn more about becoming a scholarship donor, visit www.bloomfield.edu/giving/scholarships. To learn if you are eligible for scholarship support, visit www.bloomfield.edu/admission/financing-education/scholarships.