Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA CONTACT: Janette Robbins
561-297-4076, jrobbi13@fau.edu
FAU Scholarship Benefactors Honored at
Luncheon
BOCA RATON, FL (June 16, 2010) – Florida
Atlantic University’s Division of University Advancement
brought together scholarship benefactors and student recipients by
hosting two luncheons at the Marleen & Harold Forkas Alumni
Center on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. Both events allowed
FAU to publicly thank friends of the university who have generously
championed, and sustained the dreams and accomplishments of
deserving undergraduate and graduate students throughout
FAU’s 10 colleges. A major arm of FAU’s administrative
framework, University Advancement is responsible for fulfilling the
goals of FAU through fundraising efforts designed to capture the
interest and support of alumni, donors and members of the academic
and outside communities.
Guests
were welcomed at both luncheons by FAU Foundation Board Member
Peter LoBello. Since 1999, LoBello and his wife, Kerry, have
been strong supporters of FAU athletic events and academic
scholarship programs. Building their own legacy of giving, the
LoBellos have impacted the lives of numerous students in the
College of Engineering and from the commercial music program within
the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. Their efforts
on behalf of FAU exemplify the true power of philanthropy. In a
brief address, delivered at both luncheons, FAU Provost John
Pritchett offered his words of thanks to all guests in attendance.
“At FAU, we are proud to be able to offer students of
all ages the priceless opportunity to access higher
education,” said Pritchett. “You, our donors, are
helping us fulfill this very important mission, and you richly
deserve our sincere thanks.”
Student
scholarship recipient Cathy Trivigno spoke at the first luncheon.
At the time of the event, Trivigno was approaching completion
of the doctoral degree program, with a 4.0 GPA, in integrative
biology at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
Trivigno’s story is nothing short of inspirational.
Shortly after entering this rigorous graduate program,
Trivigno, a single parent, was told her daughter had Asperger
Syndrome. Educating herself about this autism spectrum disorder,
Trivigno was determined to seek the best treatment possible for her
daughter. The expenses of this early intervention were
overwhelming, and Trivigno knew that without tuition assistance she
would have to withdraw from school. She turned to the FAU
Foundation for help and received the support she so desperately
needed.
“Thanks
to the Foundation and the generosity of such donors as Arthur
Weiss, I have been able to complete my courses and concentrate on
my dissertation research project,” said Trivigno.
“Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and well
received by the scientific community, my research focuses on a
cancerous gene mutation that has been implicated in a fatal
pediatric disorder. Last year, I was one of nine student
delegates chosen by the Genetics Society of America to represent
the United States at the International Congress of Genetics in
Berlin. The support I received from FAU benefactors when I faced
uncertainty allowed me to earn my degree, and now I am able to go
forward in my career. Your gifts have enriched the lives of many
students and secure the future for generations to come.”
Representing
student grant recipients at the second luncheon was Joshua Hunter
Davis, a master’s degree candidate in visual arts from the
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. For as long
as he could remember, Davis had an interest in art. Davis chose
FAU’s graduate program in painting for its world-class
faculty. Admitting that his first eye-opening year as a
graduate student was far from easy, Davis faced the excitement and
challenges of artistic freedom. When he began creating a
thematic series of large scale oil paintings, Davis discovered the
staggering costs of producing large scale pieces. He feared
that he would have to abandon this ambitious project until he
sought a grant from the Lucille B. and Jacob Friedland Art
Endowment through the FAU Foundation. This grant endowed Davis with
enough money for his supplies, and a subsequent grant will enable
him to participate in an upcoming FAU summer study abroad program
in Italy. Davis sees the experience of studying art in Italy
and the immersion in Italian culture as crucial to his advancement
as an artist, student and person.
“Being
awarded these merit-based grants was crucial to my
education,” said Davis. “They enable me to break
through to new heights. Opportunity is the one thing that all
scholarships, fellowships and grants provide to students. As
I have learned these past few years, success rarely exists without
opportunity, and so I offer thanks to all of you on behalf of all
FAU student recipients.”
- FAU -
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the
fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves
more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven
campuses and sites. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching
university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts 10 colleges:
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E.
Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, the College of Business, the
College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of
Education, the College of Engineering & Computer
Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate
College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and
the
Charles E. Schmidt College of
Science. For more information, visit
www.fau.edu
<http://www.fau.edu>
.
