Alumni golf outing a swinging success for student scholarships
The School of Business Administration Alumni Association and title sponsor Lear Corporation held the fifth annual Swing for the Students golf outing July 25 at the Detroit Golf Club. The association recruited 127 players and more than 36 sponsors to raise nearly $60,000 for their Endowed Scholarship for Emerging Leaders, bringing the total endowment to more than $250,000.
David Williams, dean of the School of Business Administration, applauded the Alumni Association for their fundraising efforts.
“The Alumni Association has built a real sizeable endowment over the past five years, and it is having a real impact on the students through this scholarship,” he said.
Nia Henderson, a sophomore management major in the School of Business Administration, scholarship recipient and aspiring entrepreneur, said the scholarship was a big help with her finances and grades.
“From the moment I visited the School of Business Administration I felt at home,” Henderson said. “I’m forever grateful for the School of Business Administration alumni as well as all of the donors who have contributed to my future.”
Remarks from keynote speaker Peter Oleksiak, a WSU alumnus and vice president at event sponsor DTE Energy, emphasized that supporting Wayne State can make a positive economic impact in Detroit. He highlighted ways alumni can reach back to give a hand up to future business leaders who are pursuing a Wayne State education, including contributing to scholarships and hiring students and graduates. He described how Wayne State helped him when he was a student.
“I benefitted early in my career from attending Wayne State, and part of that was receiving a scholarship,” Oleksiak said. “Wayne State was there to help me at a point where I needed it.”
He said alumni can make direct impact by making sure that the school can continue to provide scholarships where they are needed.
Susan Leithauser-Yee, president of the School of Business Administration Alumni Association, pointed out some of the ways that the alumni association helps graduates stay connected with the university.
“One of the roles of the Alumni Association is to help business school alumni get together and network to do business together,” she said. “We also like to keep them engaged in the school and this event is an example of that.”
Ned Grant, chairman of the Swing for the Students planning committee, said the event was a big success and its growing success is in part due to the networking opportunities and the cause.
“When we launched this program in 2007, we wanted to be able to make things better for some School of Business students in need,” Grant said. “The event clearly demonstrated that we are accomplishing our goal. I’d like to think it’s because it’s a great outing, but more likely, it’s because it’s a great cause.”
