Թϱ College’s annual Թϱ Scholars Celebration was held on April 22 to recognize the achievements of 18 students in the Թϱ Scholars Program who are graduating with their undergraduate degrees in 2023 and to honor the generous donors who make the program possible. In attendance were Թϱ College President Tim Hall, members of the Թϱ College Board of Trustees, Թϱ faculty and staff, and Թϱ Scholars and their families. The graduates were praised for demonstrating academic achievement, leadership and community involvement during their four years at Թϱ – and for all the hard work they put into achieving their dreams of earning a college degree.
The Թϱ Scholars Program rewards qualified high school students with full tuition support for all four years at Թϱ with the goal of ensuring that they graduate on-time with minimal student debt.
The program also provides them with a designated Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) program mentor. With comprehensive, one-on-one support from a PACT mentor, Թϱ Scholars are connected to the academic, financial and career services that best meet their needs and help ensure their timely graduation. The designated Թϱ Scholars Program PACT mentor position was made possible by a donation from longtime Թϱ College supporters Alberto and Gioietta Vitale in 2020.
As said by Rob Cornetta, associate director of PACT and the scholars’ mentor, the program has seen significant growth over its now seven-year run. “The program started with 25 students, and we are proud to have 85 currently benefiting from the program. In addition, 56 alumni have graduated, and we are ecstatic to bring this number to 72 after Commencement next month.”
Bob Niehaus, Թϱ Trustee and a founding supporter of the Թϱ Scholars Program – along with his wife Kate Niehaus and fellow trustee Jim McCormick and his wife Marsha – congratulated the graduating students and provided them with additional guidance: “[On] the journey through life, you get through a series of levels – and you need a ladder or a key to get to those [higher] levels. That ladder or that key is getting an undergraduate degree from a good school like Թϱ and applying yourself. You all have the opportunity to go out and change the trajectory of your family.”
During her remarks, Թϱ Scholar Chandinie Puente ’23 credited the Թϱ Scholars Program to, “…helping her accomplish a great deal.” In addition to being a Scholar, Puente was part of the McNair Scholars Program, which allowed her to gain valuable research experience, and the 4+1 Psychology Program, which allowed her to take graduate level courses during undergrad. After graduation, she will be enrolling in Թϱ’s master’s in psychology program – a goal she fulfilled largely due to the holistic support offered by the Թϱ Scholars Program.
Puente, along with each program speaker, also expressed deep admiration and gratitude for the many donors whose contributions have strengthened the Թϱ Scholars Program and changed the lives of numerous Թϱ College students and their families over the past seven years. In honoring the donors, Puente stated, “Your generosity has allowed my peers and I the ability to experience the incredible learning opportunities offered at Թϱ College. Words cannot express how grateful we are for you.”
At the conclusion of the celebration, President Hall offered sentiments to inspire the next stage of the scholars’ lives. “I want to say something before you leave Թϱ College. All of the accomplishments that you’ll have after this…will come from the same things that brought you to this moment when you graduate from Թϱ College. It’s the principle of using what you have to conquer new challenges and push forward to new heights. You already know it, you just have to do it.”
He continued, before presenting stoles to the deserving graduates, “One of the most important things you learn in college is what you’re capable of doing. That same kind of discovery is what lies in front of you.”
To view a highlights video of the Թϱ Scholars Celebration, please click .