New Event Celebrates Donors and Their Scholars

Buffalo State students, families, and scholarship donors filled the Campbell Student Union Social Hall early Saturday morning to kick off Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014 at the Scholar and Donor Breakfast.

Hosted by Buffalo State President Katherine S. Conway-Turner, the new event celebrated Buffalo State’s student scholarship recipients and the donors who transformed their lives.

"It is important that we recognize our best scholars, while also thanking those individuals who make scholarships possible," said Vice President for Student Affairs Hal D. Payne. "It meant a great deal to me to co-sponsor this event and I look forward to sponsoring it again in the future."

Scholarship donor Ann Millacci, ’81, Dr. Ann M. Millacci and Mr. Michael H. Brock Endowed Scholarship Fund, said the event was “lovely” and noted that “it is important for students to be able to thank their benefactors in person and for those donors to have a face to put with their philanthropy.”

More than 300 students and their families and friends had the opportunity to eat and talk with their benefactors while enjoying a pancake breakfast. Students also filmed thank-you messages to send to those donors who could not attend.

"The generosity that goes on behind the scenes each year becomes even more meaningful when you see the donors and the grateful recipients in the same room,"  said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Susanne Bair. "Despite Buffalo State’s affordable tuition, especially compared to many other institutions of higher education, there are a number of students who would not be able to complete their education without financial assistance. This is where our donors step in. They take it upon themselves to ensure that a number of deserving students will become successful professionals and contributing citizens in an increasingly challenging world by completing a degree at Buffalo State.”

Buffalo State’s enrollment is more than 10,600 students. Of those students, 85 percent receive financial assistance. The college gives out nearly 200 privately funded scholarships, ranging from $250 to $5,000, which provide over 500 students with much needed support.

View pictures from this event.

Pictured: Ann Millacci, donor, and Eric Gauchat, scholar