Temple University Scholarship Reception

A Celebration of Donor Support and Life-Changing Impact

March 29, 2023

Mitten Hall

By Jessica Jewel Tyler

On Wednesday, March 29, Temple hosted its first universitywide Scholarship Reception, bringing together faculty, staff, donors and student scholarship recipients to highlight the impact of philanthropy. During the event, student recipients shared powerful stories of scholarships that have changed their lives forever, and donors shared compelling tenets for joining Temple’s mission toward boundless access. The excitement, heartfelt gratitude and unbreakable bonds between these students and the donors who actively support their education were unmistakably felt through the crowd.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mary Burke emphasized this collaborative energy by stating, “While every individual can play a role in the life of a university, Temple University is bigger than just one person. Its greatness comes from the collective inspiration of a community of scholars and philanthropists, faculty and alumni, innovators and changemakers inspiring each other to do great things together.”

The event was a perfect tribute to the transformative power of scholarship support and the impact donors can have on fulfilling the unending dreams of ambitious students. One of the evening’s student speakers, Grace White, who tragically lost her father on orientation day, embodies this sentiment.

“Being able to enjoy my experience at Temple without financial worries helped me to navigate these past three years. Throughout my time here, I have blossomed into a future teacher who can make a difference in a student’s life. I want to be the best teacher I can be, and I know Temple and its community of donors have given me the resources and confidence to do just that,” said White.

Another student speaker and harpist, Medgina S. Maitre, also regaled us with a story of her scholarship to the Boyer College of Music and Dance and how it led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet her hero, Principal Harpist, Ann Hobson Pilot. During the evening, Provost Greg N. Mandel further applauded access to education regardless of economic background or area of study.

“One of the things I found wonderful about tonight’s event was the incredible diversity of scholarships, from tuition and research grants to offsetting other financial obstacles to allow our students to achieve their fullest potential. As a university community, we share in the commitment to provide an exceptional, affordable and accessible education for all students now and in the future. We are devoted to that mission, and this event tonight is a perfect example,” said Mandel.

One of Temple’s loyal supporters, Bonnie Greenburg, has endowed scholarships for more than 30 nontraditional students who would not have been able to attend Temple otherwise. She delivered a captivating speech to cap off the evening’s remarks.

“Many adult students are single parents. Most struggle with paying for basic necessities, so college doesn’t seem possible. Therefore, my husband, three children and I created a trust dedicated to improving the lives of young adults, especially first-generation college and nontraditional students, headed to Temple. If we can alleviate some of their burden by awarding scholarship dollars, we are happy and privileged to do so,” said Greenberg.

After the remarks, the energy still ran high as students and donors chatted over light bites. The students’ stories manifested the true extent of what can be achieved when passionate people are given the help they need to pursue their goals. We sat down with students Natalia Errico, Tiffany Li, Zoey Milwood and Myles Savage to hear more incredible stories.

More Student Stories

Natalia Errico
School of Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management

Errico lost her father while attending Temple and may not have been able to finish her program without a scholarship. She now attends the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management and is preparing for the event entertainment management field by working the Temple Homecoming and Family Weekend and maintaining a job with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I chose Temple because my dad and I used to watch Rocky, and he stressed the message of perseverance. I’m happy I was able to receive a scholarship because I get to do this for my dad, and I get to follow my dreams. I want to bring more positivity to women in sports. You don’t see a lot of women in sports, and I want to not only add to that number but become a role model for young girls so they can recognize their opportunity in the field,” said Errico.

Tiffany Li
College of Liberal Arts

First-generation Asian American student Tiffany Li used her scholarship to broaden her horizons. She’s an English major with an interest in research and volunteering. She chose Temple because of the multitude of opportunities, but it formed a special place in her heart thanks to the professors who taught her that literature is more than the words on the page and her Asian literature class that helped her connect with her roots and see her ancestors’ immigration experiences in a new light.

"Receiving the scholarship has allowed me to pursue more opportunities in my community. One day, I hope to serve the community as a physician, and currently, I've been able to do volunteering and research in health. I work with charities to bridge the healthcare gaps in language and socioeconomic areas. These are problems communities have, and I’m grateful to receive a scholarship so I can give back while pursuing my career,” said Li.

Zoey Milwood
Fox School of Business

Zoey Milwood attends the Fox School of Business and plans to pursue a career in marketing management in the tech space to break barriers.

“To all the donors that have supported my journey, I would like to say the sincerest thank you. The tech field comprises only 3.7% Black professionals, and I want to break that boundary. I chose Temple because of the resources and opportunities available to us, and I feel like this university would set me up for success in the future. Your support is paramount for students like me that need it, and I have no words for how much it means,” said Milwood

Myles Savage
Fox School of Business

Current Fox Student Myles Savage is motivated by his scholarship to pursue his dreams and provide educational resources to those in need as a part of the National Association of Black Accountants.

“I’m humbled that somebody feels I’m worthy enough to support my education. This summer, I plan to intern with Wells Fargo in real estate investment banking. Hopefully, I’ll be able to leverage that experience to pursue real estate private equity and continue to spread financial literacy. Until then, I will continue to add to the list of names that I have to make proud one day,” said Savage.

Scholarships are created by donors who feel personally connected to the university and are moved to support the next generation of Temple Owls. Every gift begins with a story—a personal reason for giving back, and those stories, diverse backgrounds, interests and abilities of our Temple Community come together to build a bridge for the next generation. We sat down with donors Roy and Shelley Schwartz, CPH '74 and Mary Ammon, CPH '86, to learn why they passionately support scholarships.

More Donor Stories

Roy and Shelley Schwartz, CPH '74

Roy and Shelley Schwartz whose son Joshua G. Schwartz graduated from the Fox School of Business but tragically passed away in 2014, set up scholarships to pay it forward and provide the same opportunity for others. They expressed their pleasure in seeing other students succeed, knowing their family's legacy continued to live.

“We give to Temple because my family is three generations Temple strong: my dad in 1949, me in 1974 and my son in 2010. In 2014, he passed away, and we committed to paying it forward and creating a legacy for him, allowing other students to succeed like Temple allowed our son to. Josh gained a lot of knowledge and had a great time on Temple's campus, so it made sense for us to provide the same opportunity to others. My wish is for others to follow in my and my husband’s footsteps and help the future to succeed because Temple is the root of their success, as it was mine, my dad’s and my son’s,” said Shelley Schwartz.

Mary Ammon, CPH '86

Ammon who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh for her undergraduate degree, saw many people coming through the revolving doors of learning; most of them were Black, and quite a few were in poor pockets of the city. Only two Black women were in her graduating class, and she wanted to be the change.

“It was so disheartening because some of them didn’t have the opportunity to focus, and young people today have even more extenuating factors that require their attention. I want to help in any way I can. I want the students who’ve gotten our scholarships to take what we’ve given them, go out and pursue their dreams. It’s an old cliché, but we are all part of the village that cares for the next generation,” said Ammon.

The Scholarship Reception is an important reminder of the critical role scholarships play in ensuring the university’s mission of boundless access to education. Throughout the evening, it was clear donors were deeply invested in the success of their scholarship recipients, and students were profoundly grateful for their newfound opportunities and expanded potential. The Temple community will continue to work together to support deserving students and ensure access to education remains a top priority.

“We thank the alumni and friends who, through their philanthropy, opened the doors of opportunity to so many amazing Temple students. You inspire us with your vision and generosity. We honor the courage and talents of our students who, because of scholarship awards, can pursue their passions, often against great odds. You inspire us to believe the future is bright,” said Mary Burke

You can learn more about endowing scholarships or be a part of something larger and help the Temple community collectively support scholarships with the Temple Access Fund. The Access Fund provides vital scholarships to students with demonstrated financial need to reduce the cost of attending Temple and the need for outside income to allow students greater concentration on their academic success.