By Elizabeth Ednie and Abagail Chartier
The long awaited announcement teased for weeks by the College is a new campaign which includes more scholarships, new programs and expanded opportunities for students. Stonehill revealed its “To Be Bold” campaign Thursday, May 13 after weeks of speculation by students.
Students, faculty, alumni and parents were able to watch the half hour announcement from a live website at 7p.m.
“Stonehill is a college on the move,” said Patrick Griffin, Class of ‘81 and a member of the Board of Trustees.
Griffin, who is the Campaign Chair, said that “it was important in 2016 when we began thinking about this campaign, but in 2021, we need the campaign now more than ever.”
Griffin said that it’s critical to create the best future for Stonehill, and the “To Be Bold” campaign is the only way change and opportunity will happen.
President Father John Denning, C.S.C. invited everyone to participate and said that current and future students, as well as faculty and alumni will all benefit from this campaign.
According to a pie chart from the video, there is a $75 million goal which is divided up four different ways.
$30 million will go into providing scholarship and financial aid to students, $25 million towards the recent construction of the Meehan building, $10 million is going towards new curriculum and academic innovation, and the remaining $10 million will go into the Stonehill College Fund.
The largest amount of money will be going towards what the College calls Light Every Path. A number of alumni and students said that without scholarship and financial aid, they not only wouldn’t be where they were today, but may not have gone to college at all.
“I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for the scholarships. The opportunity to pursue my education here at Stonehill was very impactful,” Rama Aldakhlallah, Class of ‘20 said.
“That scholarship gave me the opportunity to come here, and to take advantage of every single opportunity, and was the deciding factor for me to come here,” Lucas Sartori, Class of ‘20 said.
A large amount of the money Stonehill gives to support students through scholarship comes from the network of alumni. “If I did not have all those supports from people that I don’t even know who decide to support me, I would not have been able to graduate from here,” Evaijadie Paul, Class of ‘20 said.
“I am really grateful for the generosity of the donors that help support us students,” Michael McShane, Class of ‘21 added.
“I was offered a scholarship for all four years,” Thomas Noah, Class of ‘15, said, “and one of the best things that could ever happen to me because I’m one of the first in my family to go to college and get a college degree. That’s something that, I mean, as an immigrant from a family that doesn’t really have much it was a major catalyst in my life. ”
All the speakers carried the same message: none of them would be where they are today without the generosity from alumni who funded the scholarships they received.
Underneath the $10 million dollar Bold Ideas of Academic Innovation and Excellence umbrella, there are six new ideas spread across the College of Arts and Science and the School of Business.
According to the “Bold Ideas” page under the Provost Office’s website, the first four ideas pillar from the May School of Arts and Sciences, and the remaining two come from the Meehan School of Business. They are as follows:
As a home for innovative and interdisciplinary teaching, research, and public dialogue, The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice is infusing the study of race and ethnicity into curriculum, while increasing the number of students of color and much more.
Integrated Photonics, a new major under Stonehill’s physics department, will explore the rapidly growing field as one of the only undergraduate level photonics programs in the country. Stonehill will be working closely with Bridgewater State University and MIT at an off-campus state-of-the-art photonics laboratory.
Stonehill’s theater program will be working collaboratively with the London-based Frantic Assembly, allowing students a three week residency with the group to create their own theatre production.
For students who want the fullest liberal arts experience but also want to make sure they are career ready with marketable skills for employers, the Pathways to Careers program will be able to help them understand the value of their major, while providing the skills to increase their marketability.
The Center for Experiential Learning and Engaged Research will give students and faculty experimental learning opportunities, which will be the hub for team projects and will manage the assignments as they come in from outside organizations.
Financial Technology, or FinTech, is a rapidly growing sector within finance looking at everything from artificial intelligence to Blockchain for cryptocurrency. This Bold Idea fits into Stonehill’s social justice mission, and will directly benefit the “unbankable” population that has traditionally been left out of the capital markets.
After Griffin and Father Denning recited the six Bold Ideas and explaining the significance of each one, Griffin encourages not only students and faculty, but the entire Stonehill Community to think bold.
“Let’s remember: scholarships light every student’s path to Stonehill, and their paths out into the world,” Father Denning said.
Stonehill has already raised $59 million out of their $75 million goal, which they hope to hit by Light and Hope day of 2022, which is the eve of the College’s 75th anniversary.
“Much of the work is done, but much remains to be done. Tonight is your opportunity to join the trustees, faculty, and alumni in making sure we’re all bold,” Griffin said.
The speakers of tonight’s event listed five ways for the Stonehill community to get involved in the “To Be Bold” campaign:
Sarah Bessette, Class of ‘21 gave an easy way to get involved with the campaign. “It’s super simple, you can just visit our campaign website to learn more, at tobebold.stonehill.edu.”
Abraham Medeiros, Student Body President and member of the Class of ‘21 said to hold a zoom viewing party. “If you’re excited by this campaign like we are, and you know a few Stonehill alum, this show is going to be on the website for 30 days. Get a zoom party together, watch it, get excited, let’s get this thing going,” Mediros said.
“Just come to campus! If you haven’t been here for a while, you’re going to be amazed,” Butch Stearns, Class of ‘82, said.
In the fourth way to help, Denning encouraged viewers to make a gift to the campaign. “And remember, your gift to the Stonehill College fund counts.”
The last way to get involved is to RSVP or attend one of the upcoming campaign events.
“These begin with a series of virtual events, as soon as next Thursday, May 20, where we kick off a series of zoom discussions about the campaign and its impact,” Griffin said.
To learn more about Stonehill’s “To Be Bold” campaign, visit the website at tobebold@stonehill.edu
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