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Recent grads contribute to student scholarships

DU’s Recent Graduate Committee is on a mission to give back to University of Denver students.

The group — which consists of alumni who’ve graduated in the past 10 years and is sponsored by DU’s Office of Alumni Relations — founded the Young Alumni Endowed Scholarship to provide financial assistance to deserving juniors and seniors who have made significant contributions to the community.

“Scholarships are critical in the life of DU, allowing us to recruit and retain the finest student minds in the nation and in the world,” says Tyler Beins (BSBA ’09, IMBA ’09), co-chair of the committee. “By maintaining a competitive application process, the value of a University of Denver degree is increasing.”

As of June 2011, the scholarship’s endowment has received $49,093 in gifts and hopes to reach $100,000 by the end of DU’s Ascend campaign in 2014.

In the past, the scholarship has been funded through gifts from the 27-member committee and contributions from the University, but the committee plans to engage the greater DU community in its future fundraising goals.

“We want to increase our scholarship award amount by increasing the donor base,” Beins says. “All gifts have an impact — no amount is too small.”

The committee has awarded three scholarships, totaling $8,100, since the fund’s inception in 2009.

Each spring, the Office of Financial Aid provides the Recent Graduate Committee with a list of potential recipients. The list includes students who demonstrate academic merit, contributions to the greater community and financial need. The committee reviews the list of prospective beneficiaries and makes a recommendation to the Office of Financial Aid.

Previous recipients include Lacey Henderson (BA Spanish ’11), Amanda VanDyke (BS biochemistry ’11) and Ariel Bravo, a senior who is pursuing a 4+1 degree in public policy.

“This scholarship has given me the opportunity to go to school and focus on my studies, which has allowed me to complete my degree,” VanDyke says. “Additionally it has provided me with the opportunity to get involved with the community to complete projects such as ‘It’s an art world after all,’ an initiative through the Pioneer Leadership Program to create a performing arts program at a local middle school.”

The committee has several events planned to raise awareness about the scholarship and bring recent grads together to socialize and network.

In addition to monthly happy hours at Denver-area restaurants and organized community service activities, there will be Homecoming events in the fall, an evening at Canvas and Cocktails in September and a Winter Ball in December.

“It is our mission to keep as many alumni involved with DU for the benefit of the alumni as well as the University,” Beins says.

For more information, visit the committee’s website or Facebook page. For more information or to make a donation to the scholarship, contact Nancy Christensen at nancy.christensen@du.edu or 303-871-2239.

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