Students and donors celebrated at Presidential Scholarship Reception

By Dan Bodene, contributing writer

OU student and scholarship recipient Chelsea Oates stands with donor Robert Causley at the 2010 Presidential Scholarship Reception.

At least one thing was evident at the recent Presidential Scholarship Reception hosted by Oakland University President Dr. Gary Russi, and it was observed by longtime OU philanthropist Steve Sharf: “A scholarship is like an investment.”

The rewards of giving, and giving back, were clearly represented among 128 scholarship recipients and many scholarship donors who were recognized at the reception and luncheon.

Russi said, “There is no better gift than the gift of education. We are indebted to the donors who help provide that gift.” Russi added, “Congratulations to the students here today. Your accomplishments reflect highly on Oakland University and we are very proud of you.”

“The power of the support from donors is so huge, it impacts every one of you,” said Dr. Virinder Moudgil, OU senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “I’d like to thank the generous donors in the audience – their hard-earned dollars are earning rewards.”

Susan Goepp, Oakland vice president for University Relations and executive director of the OU Foundation, reported that alumni, donors and friends contributed or pledged more than $1.3 million for student scholarships during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. “Their commitment goes on year after year,” she said.

Oakland senior Chelsea Oates, a psychology major, member of the OU diving team and recipient of the Jim Causley Buick GMC Award, expressed how extremely important the scholarship is to her college experience. “It allows me to focus on academics and athletics, and not on the stress of where the money for college is coming from. And, it is an honor to receive it.”

Robert Causley, president of Jim Causley Buick GMC and donor of the scholarship awarded to Oates, was himself a diver at Oakland. “I remember when we didn’t even have team sweats,” he said with a laugh. He believes Oates is the first OU diver to receive a scholarship from an outside donor.

Goepp noted that overall, the spirit of giving is prevalent at OU: the Oakland University Alumni Association has, over time, raised nearly $1 million in student scholarship support; and the All-University Fund Drive last year raised more than $226,000 for OU, United Way and Black United Fund.