Annual Dinner Celebrates the Gift of Scholarship

Dr. Alan Benn, left, and Tamar Cato at the Tenth Annual Scholarship Dinner. Cato, a junior majoring in social work, is the recipient of the Shelby Starner Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

Photo by Susie Forrester

Scholarship donors were inspired to hear how student scholarship recipients would make their mark on the world during the Tenth Annual Scholarship Dinner. Held April 19, 2018, at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, Pa., the East Stroudsburg University Foundation’s signature event drew more than 300 guests and gave students the opportunity to thank their donors in person.

Themed Through You, I Will, the celebration also gave students a chance to share their career dreams attainable through the gift of scholarship. Keynote speakers for the dinner were Misozi Houston and Vincent Gervasi, both of the Class of 2019, and Daniela Arango Zapata, class of 2018. The master of ceremonies for the evening was Destinee Ward, Class of 2019.

This year, the ESU Foundation administered nearly 600 scholarships to deserving students, according to Rich Santoro, executive director of the ESU Foundation.

“While providing scholarships is just one aspect of our mission, it remains a priority that we continue leading the way for donors to support scholarship and students to receive the financial assistance they need. So far, five new endowed scholarships and 24 new annual scholarships have been established through the generosity of those who believe in ESU and the education it provides,” said Santoro.

As of April 2018, the generosity of donors has resulted in more than $772,982 provided to student scholarship recipients, a 4.13 percent increase over last year.

Event sponsors for the dinner were PSECU and The Haverford Trust Company.

Through the East Stroudsburg University Foundation, your Annual or Endowed Scholarship gift is more than a private contribution; it’s personal to you, and especially meaningful to the talented young adults creating their path to success!