Even During Times of Decreased Donor Giving, HSSU Still Celebrates Scholarship Recipients
News Harris-Stowe State University
For Immediate Release
Contact: Courtney McCall
(314) 340-3391
Even During Times of Decreased Donor Giving, HSSU Still Celebrates
Scholarship Recipients
ST. LOUIS, MO (April 4, 2013) - College sophomore Drake Hall graduated
from Webster Groves High School with a 3.8 grade point average. He was
well liked and well involved during high school. Because of his grades,
he, of course, was inundated with college options. He chose to attend
Harris-Stowe State University not only because it was close to home, but
he was offered the Henry Givens Jr. Scholarship, which, covered his
tuition, books, fees and room and board - and he needed the financial
assistance.
Now, a sophomore who serves as a residence hall assistant, Hall is
considered one of HSSU's bright and shining stars, as he continues to
excel academically. He will bring the occasion at this year's
scholarship ceremony, an annual tradition that highlights university
donors and showcases students who will be financially rewarded for their
educational achievements. Most importantly, it gives donors an
opportunity to see the benefits of their monetary contributions up close
and personal.
Marguerite Bieler Notorangelo, who grew up on a dairy farm in Ferguson,
Missouri, graduated from Harris Teachers College in 1940. Realizing at a
very young age that she wanted to be a teacher, Harris was the perfect
choice for her, as it was considered the best option for aspiring
educators during that time. While at Harris, she played basketball and
joined a sorority. She was hired as a teacher by the St. Louis Public
Schools and later by the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
"She loved teaching," said her daughter Marge Greenwald. "Most of her
years were at Griffith School teaching fourth grade. She was well loved
by her students, and many would stop her at Famous Barr or other stores
and say hello."
At Notorangelo's 90th birthday party, she was honored with a scholarship
in her name - The Marguerite Bieler Notorangelo Educators Scholarship -
for students majoring in teacher education at Harris-Stowe State
University.
"When a scholarship was set up in her name, it was to honor her love of
teaching and to make funds available to foster another teacher," said
Greenwald.
In 2010, Marguerite's husband, Anthony Notorangelo, donated $25,000 to
HSSU to establish the renewable scholarship, and each year since the
contribution, one student has received $3,000 per semester.
Donor Gwendolyn Downs never attended college, but she and her husband
Roger have always deemed education an important part of an individual's
success. Based on criteria that she and her family set, she annually
gives to HSSU via two scholarships that she established in two of her
brother-in-law's names. Additionally, she takes it one step further and
donates a car every two years to a deserving single mother who is
working toward her bachelor's degree, something that has never been done
before at HSSU.
"I wanted to give back because people were so kind to us as children and
always helped my parents," said Gwendolyn Downs of she and her husband's
choice to donate funds to HSSU. "At this stage of our lives, it's not
about us; it's about what we can do for someone else to make their life
just a little bit easier."
The need for committed donors like the Notorangelo and Downs family is
now greater than ever before, as overall college fundraising -
especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities - is
struggling due to the economy. More than 93 percent of HSSU students
rely on some form of financial aid, therefore, raising additional funds
to assist students with matriculating and persisting through college is
a major university priority. Implementing new tuition structures, such
as offering up to 16 credit hours for the same rate as a 12 credit-hour
load helps students take more classes without added expenses and
eventually graduate faster. Such initiatives are what make Harris-Stowe
the most affordable bachelor's degree option in the state, allowing the
university to maintain exceptional affordability and accessibility for
its students.
Corporations such as Anheuser-Busch and Peabody Energy have been
long-time supporters of the award ceremony, as well as entities such as
the HSSU Alumni Association and the Fox Family Foundation. The
scholarship award ceremony, which is hosted by the Enrollment Management
operation at HSSU, will take place on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 11
a.m., in the Emerson Performance Center's Bank of America Theatre.
Nearly 70 students will be given scholarships. If you are interested in
establishing a scholarship or donating to HSSU, please contact the
Office of Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development at
(314) 340-3391. All donations to the Harris-Stowe Foundation, a 501 (c)
(3) organization, are tax deductible.
Harris-Stowe State University, located in midtown St. Louis, is a
four-year institution that offers 14 degree programs in the areas of
Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Criminal Justice, Early
Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Health Care Management,
Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Sciences and Computer
Technology, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Professional
Interdisciplinary Studies, Secondary Education and Urban Affairs. Ranked
by U.S. News as one of America's Best Colleges in the Midwest, the
university, which has been in existence for more than 150 years, offers
the most affordable bachelor's degree in the state of Missouri. HSSU is
home of the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute.
Photo Captions:
Vanessa Foster-Cooksey, Community Affairs at Anheuser-Busch, presents an
HSSU Business student with his award certificate.
Marguerite Bieler Notorangelo is presented, as a gift at her 90th
birthday party, with memories from Harris Teachers College.
Courtney Z. McCall
Assistant Vice President
Communications, Marketing, Alumni Affairs & Development
HGA 110
3026 Laclede Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63103
Ofc: (314) 340-3391 I Cell: (314) 280-9964
Harris-Stowe State University
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