2018-2019 Honor Roll of Donors
Thank You!
Your gifts play a crucial role in the lives of our students and our community
No student crosses the threshold of a Cardinal Stritch University classroom without benefitting from the tremendous support and patronage of the people, organizations, businesses and foundations who believe in the transformative power of the Stritch experience. This 2018–2019 Honor Roll of Donors recognizes by name every donor who opened those classroom doors for the men and women who now lead purposeful lives in schools, clinics, offices, laboratories, theaters, non-profit organizations, studios and innumerable other workplaces. Donations that fund the dreams, callings and mission of our local and global workforce make a difference not just in our community but in our world.
Our heartfelt gratitude is best expressed through the testimony of a proud alumna who is distinguishing herself in her field and, 20 years after graduating, still professes her deep appreciation for the way her scholarship made her career possible:
I grew up on the north side of Milwaukee and decided as early as second grade that I wanted to be a teacher. In high school, I worked several jobs but still could not save up enough for college. Coming from a two-income family, I did not qualify for grants, and my parents did not earn enough to be able to help me pay for tuition. My mom found out that Stritch offered generous financial aid, so I applied and felt fortunate to receive a scholarship that covered nearly half of my tuition. This meant I only needed to secure modest loans, which I repaid in just a few years.
At Stritch, I received an excellent education from knowledgeable and caring professors. I always felt like a valued member of the community, and I have tried to make all of my students feel the same way during the 20 years I've been teaching. In three states, I have encouraged students to follow their dreams, just as I followed my dream to become an educator.
To this day, I still use what I learned at Stritch, especially in the area of literacy. As a Title I reading teacher, I have been able to help hundreds of students over the years…and it all started at Stritch where a financial aid package helped set my dreams and career in motion.
On behalf of me and so many other alumni like me, I thank you for supporting Cardinal Stritch University.
Sincerely,
Jean (Schram) Gunderson, ’99
2020 Teacher of the Year finalist, South Dakota