New scholarship program hopes to ignite culture of giving in both current students and alumni
Alumni Association Board Past President Phil Pe’a always says “a little from a lot makes plenty.” This concept is the driving force for a new scholarship initiative called One For All, All For Mavs.
Current students are encouraged to give $1 each and alumni are challenged to give at least $5. Current students that give are then eligible to receive a scholarship out of the funds raised. In its inaugural year, the initiative raised almost $27,000. The Alumni Association Board awarded 10 $1,000 scholarships from the contributions and invested the rest in their scholarship endowment, which will benefit students for years to come.
“It’s part of our job to build a stronger philanthropic culture,” said Pe’a. “And we want to start that early.”
Pe’a understands the importance of contribution in a community. A native of the 50th state, part of the Hawaiian culture that was passed down to him from farmers, fisherman and ranchers was that a community of people must work together to reach a goal.
Pe’a believes this new scholarship program will inspire the next generation of Maverick donors.
One of last year’s recipients was junior and graphic design major Aaryana Ibarra. She is one of five children and is the first to go to college. Ibarra’s parents taught her to take advantage of scholarship opportunities. So when she learned both of her roommates were contributing to the One for All, All for Mavs scholarship, she decided to join them in donating.
“I love the idea of everyone coming together — parents, professors, students. It really makes a dollar go a long way,” said Ibarra.
Many alumni contributed $5 or $10 to the One For All, All For Mavs campaign and anonymous alumni donors gave $2,500 and $10,000. With the program approaching its second year, the Alumni Association hopes to increase the amount and number of scholarships it is able to award to current students.
With the next round of scholarship recipients set for April 2022, the pay it forward mentality has shown how much can grow from a single dollar, and that a little from a lot, makes plenty.