Rice University endowed scholarship recipients gathered Sept. 24 at Huff House for Owl Stars, a celebration recognizing the students and donors whose generosity helped make their Rice experiences possible.
Students who have received endowed scholarships were invited to the event, which featured music, refreshments, professional headshots, games and opportunities for students to connect with one another. They also wrote thank-you notes to their scholarship donors and recorded short videos — telling their stories, expressing their gratitude and sharing how scholarship support has shaped their Rice experience.
“For the first time, we’ve had our scholarship recipients come to Huff House to talk about their experiences as scholarship students and thank our donors,” said Stephen Bayer, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. “This is huge — and we’re truly grateful for all that our donors have done to transform our students’ lives.”
For students such as senior electrical engineering major Marcelino Alaniz, the event offered a rare opportunity to directly recognize the people whose support has helped her throughout their time at the university.
“It’s nice to show gratitude,” Alaniz said. “There aren’t a lot of other times I get to thank the donors throughout the year.”
For Liza Plis, a sophomore studying ecology and global affairs, scholarship support has provided both access to Rice and the freedom to take advantage of opportunities beyond the classroom.
“I would not be here without (the donors’) generous support,” Plis said. “I’m really grateful for the financial freedom that I have while I’m here. Because I had some space to breathe, in part due to the scholarship, I’ve been able to explore other things that I would have never imagined myself doing.”
For sophomore Ranye Ezenekwe, scholarship support has helped open doors to experiences ranging from emergency medical training to internships.
“Because of your generosity, I was able to become a nationally registered EMT last semester and pursue opportunities like a biotech internship at Medtronic and a medical internship in Spain,” said Ezenekwe, a Hanszen College student studying biosciences and materials science and nanoengineering.
The stories shared at Owl Stars reflect the broader role philanthropy plays in helping Rice students pursue their academic and personal goals. Endowed scholarships provide students with financial support that can expand their ability to participate in research, internships, leadership opportunities, mentorship and other experiences that complement their education.
The event also comes as Rice continues to expand the Rice Investment, the university’s commitment to making a Rice education more accessible to students from a broad range of financial backgrounds.