On October 25-27, more than 280 student scholarship recipients flocked to the Bone Student Center to write thank you letters to their Illinois State donors.
Upon arriving at the Bone, students were presented with the opportunity to write thank you letters, get their photo taken, learn more about Redbird philanthropy through trivia, decorate baked goods, and enjoy free food and prizes to thank them for their participation.
“This year’s theme for Thank-a-Donor Days celebrated the 100th birthday of Redbirds. The various stations allowed students to sit and write their thank you letters and learn about the philanthropical impact and importance at Illinois State. It’s also no birthday party without a (cup)cake,” said Donor Engagement graduate assistant Yasmin Carrillo ’23.
The over 280 students who wrote letters represented more than 60 areas of study, with the College of Arts and Sciences having the largest representation in letter writers.
Thank-a-Donor Days provided an opportunity for students to not only show their appreciation to their donors but also allowed them to connect with their donors on a deeper level by showcasing who they are and how scholarships are helping them succeed in all walks of life.
In their letters, many students also discussed how their donor’s generosity inspired them to pay it forward in the future.
“This scholarship has greatly helped me in my preparation to become a teacher. I’m able to stress less about the financial aspect of my studies and focus more on dedicating myself and doing the best I can during my time at ISU. To pay forward this generosity, I will make sure that I finish my college studies strong so that I can be the best teacher possible for my future students,” said bilingual/bicultural elementary education major Morena Cancela, recipient of the Charles DeGarmo Scholars Endowment.
With over 327 letters submitted over the three days, 113 unique donors will receive letters of thanks from their student scholarship recipients for the impact their generosity has on the lives of Illinois State students.
