On April 6, 2023, scholarship recipients and their families, donors, and ODI staff gathered at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Celebration. The annual event brings together students, donors, faculty, staff, families, and guests in a celebration of success and giving.
Emcee Arón Olegnowicz, a third year ODI Scholar (MSP), kept things rolling, introducing ODI's interim vice provost, Yolanda Zepeda, as well as two ODI scholarship recipients: Dejanique Morris (ACCESS Collaborative and recipient of the Longaberger Diversity Scholarship Fund Recipient) and Torrington Ford (MSP/BNRC and recipient of the JPMorgan Chase Scholarship ODI Scholarship). Dejanique and Torrington shared stories about the impact of their scholarships and thanked the individuals who helped them turn their educational dreams into reality. Also present to speak were ODI supporters John W. Matchett '75 (The John W. Matchett and Michael Misch Fund) and Ray Boshara '83 (The Boshara-Iannotti Family Fund).
Yolanda Zepeda, in her remarks about ODI Scholars who received scholarships, stated, “That's the difference that paying it forward can have on a young person. That's the kind of impact that you have when you support our office.”