From the Nominator

With the recent passing of one of Worcester State University's largest and most beloved benefactors, Phil Wasylean '63, we saw an opportunity to not only honor his life and many generous contributions, but also to provide students with the opportunity to learn more about how donors support them every day through scholarship, named spaces, and programs. This event was a combination of student engagement, memorial celebration of life, and donor stewardship, and supported our ongoing mission to create a culture of philanthropy across our entire campus community. Students actively participated in socially distanced on-campus events that showcased their gratitude to donors, and increased their understanding of the donor impact throughout campus. As a small office of advancement with a minimal budget, our goal was to acknowledge and thank faculty, staff, and alumni donors, to honor the life of a beloved alumnus, and to educate and engage with students safely, while also elevating the morale of our campus community during the ongoing pandemic.

From the Judges

We felt strongly that this was top tier in terms of using resources within their campus community to share a message of loyalty and passion toward their university. Very effective use of budget. The event was well-received, and got students involved when we were being faced with a pandemic. Very well done and creative.