By: Hannah Austin
In honor of Tuition Freedom Day this past Tuesday and the Thank-a thon, I’d like to analyze the positive impact donations are having on academics at Milligan College.
A large part of Milligan’s scholarships are funded by donations. These scholarships work to bring students from all across the nation to the tiny, yet significant institution of Milligan College. Because Milligan offers a diversity of scholarships including academic, athletic, and fine arts scholarships, students from a wide variety of talents and tastes are recruited to enhance the campus community.
Theresa Garbe, director of alumni relations, commented on the benefits of scholarships saying, “I think scholarships strengthen us academically because they bring diverse interests.”
Garbe also believes that Milligan’s academically focused scholarships help in bringing the “cream of the crop” to Milligan’s academic community. Without these donations, Milligan students would suffer from lack of significant financial aid to help them fund their college education.
Donors include churches, individuals, alums and non-alums. The Gilliams, donors that have funded the Gilliam Wellness Center on campus and the new residential halls to be built behind the married student apartments, are not graduates of Milligan themselves but are key donors to Milligan College. The Gilliam family gives to Milligan in honor of Mr. Gilliam’s father Marvin Gilliam, a member of the Milligan class of 1938.
When meeting with Garbe, we discussed how Milligan’s emphasis on service and servant leadership might be encouraging students to give after graduation. She discussed how efforts were always being made, such as the thank-a-thon, to increase awareness to students about the importance of donations. She hopes that these efforts increase thankfulness for donations among students. As a result of these efforts and emphasis on servant-leadership, maybe students will be encouraged to donate to Milligan when they become alums.
“There’s a culture we’re trying to create,” said Garbe regarding student recognition of donor giving and the service that can be done through donating to Milligan.
Giving to Milligan is very accessible. Donations can be sent through magazine envelopes in the Milligan magazine that is sent every fall and spring, sent directly to Milligan, or made electronically.
“We have donors that give through automatic bank drafts,” said Garbe.
Monetary gifts are not the only options for donors. Items like books for the P.H. Welshimer library or equipment for the Science Building have been donated in the past.
Donations comprise a large part of the funding source for the endeavors of Milligan College. I hope that donors will continue to give in the future, and I hope that the Milligan budget will continue to support a diverse body of students on their quest to earn an education.
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