Video by Avery Martin

The College of Health and Human Sciences annual Scholarship and Alumni Awards Dinner is a chance to bring together student recipients and their donors to meet for a celebration of gratitude.

The college recognized the 2019 recipients and donors on Nov. 6 at the Lory Student Center. This year, the college awarded 267 scholarships totaling more than $567,000.

For scholarship recipients, the awards mean having the chance to pursue their degree without as much worry about the cost of college. It is also a chance for them to thank scholarship donors whose generous contributions help students achieve their dreams.

Finding her passion

Tea Feliciano is a senior majoring in human development and family studies with a concentration in prevention and intervention science. Feliciano spoke at the event about her gratitude for receiving the Florence R. Shepardson Memorial Scholarship.

Feliciano’s journey to find HDFS came after a service trip to Tijuana, Mexico. At the time, she had a fellowship in the ecosystem science and sustainability major, which paid for her tuition. After her trip in which she had the opportunity to work one-on-one with people who ran foster homes, orphanages, and food banks, Feliciano decided to make a leap of faith and change her major to HDFS. But doing so cost her the fellowship, which was supporting her studies at CSU.

“I realized my passions did not lie within ecosystem sciences, but rather in family,” said Feliciano.

Suddenly, paying for school became her primary concern, and scholarships have helped cover her tuition.

“I have been given a renewed opportunity to follow my passions without having to sacrifice my studies or school involvement. Because of donors like all of you, hundreds of students are able to follow their dreams and pursue their passions,” said Feliciano who was able to accept an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps next year in Sierra Leone.

Assisting future teachers

Will Joyce is the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Laurie F. Michaels Scholarship in Education and spoke at the event as well. Joyce is majoring in history along with taking courses in the Center for Educator Preparation in the School of Education to earn his teacher licensure. The scholarship is awarded to future teachers entering their final semester in the teacher licensure program at CSU and for Joyce, receiving this scholarship alleviates financial burdens while student teaching.

“Student teachers work full-time teacher hours, Monday – Friday,” said Joyce. “As a result of this, most student teachers are forced to significantly cut back their preexisting work hours or are limited in the work in which they can find. In many cases, student teachers are forced to move back in with parents just to make the process feasible.”

“Thanks to this scholarship, I can spend more time thinking about what lesson I am going to plan rather than how I am going to afford a couple packs of ramen noodles for dinner. I am so honored and so privileged to have been chosen as a recipient of the Dr. Laurie F. Michaels Scholarship in Education,” said Joyce.