Scholarship celebration honors benefactors and student recipients

The impact of scholarship came to life on April 21 as President Kimo Ah Yun and Vice President for University Advancement Tim McMahon welcomed more than 350 alumni, parents and friends from across the country at the Monaghan Grand Ballroom.

Scholarship benefactors and student recipients joined in a shared celebration of opportunity and mission.

Student and faculty speakers share their experiences of scholarship impact

Dr. Amelia Zurcher, director of the Honors program, introduced Opus College of Engineering student Anne Marie Timpe, while Dr. William Cullinan, dean of the College of Health Sciences, introduced Biomedical Sciences student Erin Scheive.

Anne Marie Timpe, Engineering student and a Lovell Scholar
(Reflecting on her first visit to Marquette)

"People care about Marquette. Not just their specific professors or their specific labs, not just a place on campus or a spot in Milwaukee, but Marquette University itself: a living, breathing, moving group united by their dedication to excellence, humility and service… Marquette's spirit of community truly makes it stand out, and I am so grateful to everyone who is a part of it. "

Erin Scheive, Biomedical Sciences student
(Describing how the gross anatomy lab shaped her dream to pursue medical school)

"I not only get to receive the best education I can imagine, but I get to do so in the one place that opened my eyes to new and exciting possibilities. I truly don't think many people get the opportunity to say that.

There are countless people who make my dreams, and the dreams of many other students come true. Without your generous donations to make the scholarship I receive possible; I likely wouldn't be standing here in front of you."

Scholarship highlights

McMahon highlighted the history of scholarship at Marquette and the university's philanthropic momentum around scholarship funds, including the following highlights:

• The university has created 112 new scholarships since the close of the Time to Rise campaign in summer 2024 (this is in addition to the 436 scholarships created in Time to Rise).
• The Marquette community has contributed more than $100 million for scholarship in this second year of the new campaign (this is in addition to the $315 million committed to scholarship in Time to Rise).
• In the past decade, support for endowed scholarships has increased by 65%.

"These are much more than numbers," McMahon said. "They represent a tangible life-changing difference for student recipients and for the generous donors who give them."

The event also highlighted aspects of the overall student experience, including interactive showcases featuring: the national impact donors make helping to drive enrollment; a 4CYTE Virtual Reality experience from the College of Health Sciences; and the Vieth Institute for Real Estate.

In his closing remarks, President Ah Yun highlighted recent momentum, expressed gratitude and described the type of mission-driven students Marquette attracts.

"We want to make sure that people who come to Marquette come here to make a difference," President Ah Yun said. "We want people who want to grow and make the world a better place. To our benefactors, we say thank you. Marquette University cannot become the best version without you. Because of you, we can do so many great things."