Giving Impact
May 10, 2019
The Vaughan Family Alpha Scholarship
Rob Vaughan knew he wanted to give back, and he knew he wanted to help a student succeed at Western Michigan University. Connecting with WMU’s Alpha Program and speaking to students involved with it became his inspiration to establish a scholarship, and now Rob knows exactly how his philanthropy is...
January 21, 2025
Success, Service and the Bronco Spirit: Eric Trevan's Journey
Dr. Eric S. Trevan’s (B.A.’98, Public Administration) career journey has taken him from local leadership and education to the White House. Today, as a successful entrepreneur and business leader, Eric reflects on how his time at Western shaped his career and his desire to give back whenever possible. Eric has...
December 23, 2024
Amy Whitten Shaw Memorial Scholarship
Amy Whitten Shaw (July 23, 1987-August 12, 2024) had unwavering curiosity, compassion and a deep commitment to making a difference. When she was just 5-years-old, she wanted to bring peace to the Middle East. Amy’s path to Western Michigan University was one of resilience and discovery. After high school, she...
May 28, 2024
The Beauty of Resilience: Ebony’s Journey to Success
Not every path to earning a college degree is wrapped up in four years or with a neat bow. But thanks to her drive and ambition, Ebony Jean Dicks (B.S.’24, University Studies) graduated from Western Michigan University in 2024. Ebony was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune hair loss disorder...
March 05, 2024
Alumna Sets the Stage for the Future Through Planned Gift
The moment Shannon Rininger (B.S.′90, Music; M.P.A.′01) stepped into her first role in the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office, she knew she’d found her calling. “I remember my first day on the job. I walked into the building, stood on stage and knew I was home,” she said. “That was March...
February 21, 2024
The Gift of Opportunity: Scholarship Ignites Alumna’s Ambition
Isabela Stemple (B.S.‘23, Biological Sciences) first came to the United States as an international high school exchange student. Growing up in her home country of Brazil, her hope of pursuing higher education in America burned brightly, but the cost of doing so threatened to dampen her aspirations. “I knew that...