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>> It is now my pleasure to recognize and welcome
Dr. Maravene Loeschke, our 13th President of Towson
University, who's done such an incredibly
outstanding job here in guiding us and stewarding
us at this university. Maravene.
(APPLAUSE)
>>Dr. Maravene Loeschke: I know I wouldn't be standing
here today if I did not have a scholarship.
As a theater major when I was here, I was working in
the summers.
I was working as much as I possibly could.
It wasn't possible for my parents to support me in college.
And somebody believed in my ability.
Somebody who didn't even know me.
They just believed they wanted a scholarship to go
to someone who worked hard, really wanted an
education and deserved to have a chance.
And that's why I'm here.
And that's a lot of stories here in the room.
A very wise woman once said, when you give, it
feels a whole lot like getting.
That was my grandmother.
And she just would say that over and over.
And after a little while, I was growing up, I kind
of got it.
I understood that giving had a whole lot of sense
of what is important about the world.
So we remind ourselves all the time at the
president's council that we're here to serve these
students by providing this beautiful journey that
supports their intellectual and their
professional and their personal growth.
But most of our students need financial help to
even begin this journey and to stay on it.
And that number grows larger each year.
Donors and students, listen carefully students, please.
Donors, you do not have to do this.
You didn't have to give the way you do.
You're doing it for so many beautiful reasons and
we thank you from the bottom of our hearts that
you're supporting these dreams of an education.
Your investment in us, as you know, is an investment
in the future of our civilization.
Now in return, we want our students to hold
themselves to a personal and professional standard
of excellence now and whatever their fields they pursue.
And to themselves, find a way before they can
actually give back financially, to do that
through service.
Many of you donors in the room are here because you
either went to Towson, someone in your family
went to Towson, and so you've named this
endowment for them, or because you were a staff
or faculty member here.
So many people in this room have given these
scholarships because they were staff and faculty.
Please, please know how important and cherished
your support is because it goes directly to these
beloved students with about whom we care so deeply.
All thirty-five hundred faculty and staff and
administrators here say thank you.
We give to them every day in all the ways we can,
and you're partnering with us along the way.
And we surely, surely do appreciate it.
Now students, if you're fortunate enough to have
your donor at your table, I want you to look at them
right now - look them right in the eyes - even
if someone's representing the donor and just let
your eyes say it all.
And before you leave that table, get their email
address so you can report all your grades
regularly...
(LAUGHTER)
Dr. Maravene Loeschke: ...And let them be a part of your lives in other ways too.
And here's my last direction to you,
students, whom you know I love.
After you get your first job, you will need to put
aside $5 from every paycheck, unless your
paycheck isn't $5 - and it's like a dollar.
Get in the habit of what it's going to look like
for you to give back really early.
So when you're called every year annually or the
little thing comes in the mail, you say yes indeed,
I'm ready for this.
I have a savings account ready to go give back to
somebody else so that you can support someone who
had the same dream that you did.
Now the next level is when you really have a good job.
You have a couple kids, maybe.
And you have a mortgage, but it's not too bad and
you have a decent car.
Now you're going to give back a whole lot more -
maybe even to the scholarship that you have now.
And wouldn't that be a lovely thing to do?
And then, when the kids are out of college - and I
know you're all sitting there rolling your eyes
thinking, are you kidding me?
I'm just trying to get through chemistry.
But when you are settled, then you must start a
scholarship in the name of someone you love.
And maybe even a special teacher or staff member
here who helped to mentor you along the way.
So as Walt Whitman said, when I give, I give myself.
And this room is filled today with people who give
of themselves for you, the students.
And thank you so much for this team that this room
represents.
From the bottom of my heart, with love and
gratitude and respect, thank you for being here
and for everything you're doing.
(APPLAUSE)