快猫成版视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 31, 2019

Applications open now through February 2020

It鈥檚 one thing to help a daughter, son or other family member pay for college. It鈥檚 quite another to help a complete stranger. But that鈥檚 just what some 350 快猫成版视频 State donors have done.

At a recent scholarship luncheon hosted by 快猫成版视频 State鈥檚 Office of University Development, donors had the opportunity to meet the students whose lives they have changed forever.

鈥淚 did not fully understand the need for, or the impact of, the scholarships until meeting the recipients in person,鈥� said Kathy Walker of the American Opportunity Foundation. 鈥淭hese students all have compelling stories, grateful hearts, a desire to give back to their community and a palpable determination to succeed, not just at KSU, but in life as well.鈥�

Marc M. Girardot, whose family established the Dr. Nadia Girardot & Dr. Jean-Marie Girardot Scholarship for undergraduate students majoring in the arts or sciences, added that his family enjoys attending the luncheon because it gives them a chance to meet and hear directly from the students about how their gift has made a difference.

Three students 鈥� Sheri Choisie, Sarah Fraser and Thadeus Frazier 鈥� share how their scholarships have positively impacted them.

Sheri Chiosie 鈥� Kalafut Scholarship

Earning a scholarship from the KSU Foundation is helping single mom Sheri Chiosie pay for college, but even more meaningful is the example it sets for her teenage daughter.

Chiosie, who is double-majoring in accounting and business management while working full time for an accounting firm, received the Alice Kalafut Endowed Scholarship. Her accomplishment inspired her daughter Bella, who now is making the honor roll and aspiring to attend college.

鈥淭his shows her that all the hard work I鈥檝e been putting in made people believe in me, and they invested in my future,鈥� Chiosie said. 鈥淚 want to instill in my daughter that through hard work, perseverance, tenacity and believing in ourselves, we can accomplish anything.鈥�

Chiosie, 40, enrolled at 快猫成版视频 State at age 17, but left after a year because 鈥渓ife happened.鈥� She returned to KSU last year to pursue her dual degrees toward becoming a certified public accountant.

鈥淐oming back to 快猫成版视频 State was the best decision I鈥檝e ever made in my life,鈥� Chiosie said. 鈥淚t has changed everything for me.鈥�

Sarah Fraser 鈥� Charles S. Wollmer Memorial Scholarship

Sarah Fraser wasn鈥檛 sure she would ever attend college. A native of St. Catharines, Ontario, near Canada鈥檚 Niagara Falls, the single mother of two children found herself in dire straits six years ago.

鈥淚n 2013, my family suffered a tragedy that left me on my own with two children,鈥� said Fraser, who now lives in 快猫成版视频. 鈥淪uddenly, I became the sole provider for my family. What made it even worse was that I had no family living in this country, and I had put off my college education to raise my children.鈥�

Fraser, who is now a senior biology major, had been working for little more than minimum wage and barely making ends meet.

鈥淎fter two years working as a receptionist, I began to think about obtaining a college degree to better our situation,鈥� said Fraser. 鈥淪ome of my friends discouraged me, saying I would not be able to afford the basic necessities of life and go to college at the same time. This did concern me and I was scared, but I knew I had to do something.

鈥淚 saw earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree a lot like climbing Mount Everest,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here was a huge mountain between me and a college degree. I had no idea how I was going to make it all the way to the top, but I had the courage to start by putting one foot in front of the other.鈥�

In 2015, she sat in a college classroom for the first time. Since attending KSU, she has been awarded with a National Science Foundation Scholarship and the Charles S. Wollmer Memorial Scholarship.

鈥淲ith each scholarship, the difficult mountainous terrain was transformed,鈥� said Fraser. 鈥淚t seemed as though the tough and steep incline to the top was replaced by a manageable staircase.鈥�

Fraser will graduate next spring and plans on attending graduate school at KSU.

鈥淚 look forward to one day becoming a college science lecturer and share my passion for science with others,鈥� she said.

Thadeus Frazier 鈥� American Opportunities Foundation Scholarship

Thadeus Frazier is the first recipient of the American Opportunities Foundation Scholarship, which is provided by 快猫成版视频 State Campus Awareness, Resource and Empowerment (CARE) Services.

Frazier bounced between homes during high school, sometimes sleeping on friends鈥� couches, and the financial aspect of attending college seemed impossible. With the help of KSU鈥檚 CARE, which provides support for students dealing with homelessness, he soon enrolled at the University for summer semester.

鈥淚 had a hard time making myself at home though,鈥� Frazier said, adding that he never unpacked his bags that semester.

鈥淚t was really stressful to worry if college was going to last. It looked like no one lived in my room because all I had were two pieces of luggage,鈥� he added.

In early September, Frazier, a first-year student majoring in sociology, learned that he had been awarded the scholarship. With that good news, he finally unpacked his bags.

鈥淚t was the most stress-free I鈥檝e felt my entire life,鈥� Frazier said. 鈥淚 cannot say thank you enough for this opportunity. I can finally be a student.鈥�

Scholarship applications for the 2020-2021 academic year are now open.

鈥擯hotography by David Caselli and Jason Getz

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 快猫成版视频 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. 快猫成版视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 快猫成版视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.