Harper students say 'thank you' to donors funding their scholarships

More than 40 students at Harper College gathered last week to write out Valentine's Day cards, but not to their loved ones. Instead, they wrote heartfelt notes to their benefactors — the donors who underwrite their scholarships.

They ranged from Andrea Onuskanich of Palatine who wrote to John and Rita Canning, who founded a series of scholarships in the Women's Program.

“Your generous support has allowed me to pick myself up from the depths of abuse, divorce and job loss,” she wrote. “It has allowed me to pursue growing in new ways to support my family.

“I really want to express my sincere appreciation for your continued support,” she added. “It has really made a difference in my life.”

Another woman to benefit from the John and Rita Canning scholarships is Judy Goebert of Mount Prospect, who said in her note it was difficult to find the words to express her thanks.

“I find it difficult to put in written form how appreciative I am,” Goebert said. “I thank you for your thought of helping the ‘girl down the block' who is down on her luck. I hope some day I can return the kindness.”

Likewise, Sharmishtha Valame of Palatine wrote to Tom Thompson, who has provided funding for a scholarship for students learning American Sign Language in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program.

“Your personal commitment has helped me in a great way,” Valame wrote. “By receiving this scholarship, I'm so motivated to do my best in my education.

“Your kindness has greatly inspired me to try hard, no matter what,” she added. “It's only because of people like you that many are able to achieve their dreams.”

Laura Brown, who serves as director of annual giving for the Harper Educational Foundation, said currently there are 175 individual scholarships awarded through the foundation totaling more than $225,000.

Many of these scholarships provide support for multiple students, Brown added. As numbers of students enrolling at the community college increase, the scholarship opportunities there play an even greater role, she said.

Consequently, they had been looking for ways to thank the hundreds of donors, and asking students to write handwritten notes, on Valentine's Day, no less, seemed to fit.

“We can never thank our donors enough for the support they give in providing these scholarships,” Brown said. “It allows Harper College students to follow their educational dreams.”

Traci Grosse of Elk Grove Village is pursuing course work in engineering.

She opened her card with an equation: “Square D Schneider Electric plus $7,000 in scholarships equals one thankful engineering student.”

“I cannot tell you how much this means to me,” she added in a more conventional closing, “and my future as an engineer.”