On October 14 and 15, the UND Alumni Association and Foundation hosted their second annual ‘Notes from the Nest’ event in which students are given a chance to write a personalized “Thank You” note to their donors and express their gratitude for helping support their scholarship. his year’s event took place at the Memorial Union Ball Room and free food, including Deek’s Pizza, was provided to students who participated.
This event would not have been made possible without the generous donations from all the donors at UND. This year, more than 3300 academic scholarships totaling nearly 8.5 million dollars were awarded. Alongside the donors, more than 40 volunteers, including student ambassadors and representatives, took the time and effort to help the Alumni Association and Foundation run the event by checking students in, directing them where to go, and ensuring the entirety of the event is ran smoothly.
The highlight of the event, however, is focused on the students who eagerly made time throughout their day to participate in the event and express their gratitude towards their donors. For many students, pursuing a college degree can be incredibly challenging from a financial standpoint and is a great stressor on their personal lives. Between balancing a part time job, rigorous course load, and paying off student loans, any contribution, big or small makes a huge difference. Garrett Winjum, a first-year student from Fargo, North Dakota studying Biology with a focus on Pre-Med, was one of the scholarship recipients who participated in the event. IHe spoke about the impact that his Academic Achievement Scholarship has had on his life. “I am very grateful for my scholarship because I still have a lot of school ahead of me, and every penny counts,” Winjum said adding additional focus on the fact that he is “grateful for the donors who support us students as it helps us accomplish our dreams that without their financial support may have been out of reach.” Highlighting the immense impact that scholarships at UND have had on students from all backgrounds.
Regarding what each “Thank You” note says, no two messages are the same because each student’s personal journey is different and that is what makes this event so special. It offers a personal connection between the donors and the recipients who attend UND. Coming full circle, alongside the personalized note, students are offered the opportunity to snap a Polaroid photo of themselves holding up their note at the social media station with a UND themed backdrop. This photo is then attached to their message, adding a more personal touch to the entire ordeal.
However, it would not be a scholarship event if there was not an additional scholarship up for grabs at the conclusion of the event as well. The last station that the UND Alumni Association had set up at this incredible event was a drawing of another $1250 scholarship in which students who attended the event were eligible to enter for a chance to win.
This event highlights what makes the culture at UND so special and the fact that the Alumni Association is so heavily invested in the success of the next generation of UND students paying homage to the tradition of giving back at UND. If you had the opportunity to receive a scholarship, I hope you were as excited as other students were to express your gratitude for the impact that it had on your life.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
