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No matter the plans, goals or dreams of Widener students, their journey is often made smoother by receiving a scholarship.

The annual Scholarship Luncheon, held April 23 in Lathem Hall, was a celebration of the generosity of scholarship donors and the impact they have on the lives of recipients.

Ken ‘92 and Nancy ’88, ‘92L Miller, are among Widener’s most steadfast supporters. They addressed the room of 150 donors, recipients, and university administrators and shared that they were both first generation, non-traditional students when they attended Widener.

At Widener, they found the encouragement they needed to graduate and launch successful careers. The Millers sponsor an endowed scholarship that supports an undergraduate student in the School of Business Administration or College of Arts and Sciences. 

“I started to go to Widener because it was halfway between work and home,” said Ken Miller. “It turned out that attending Widener was the single best experience of my life.”

By coincidence, the Scholarship Luncheon also fell on the same day that Widener’s president traded places with a student, known as “President for a Day.” President Julie E. Wollman welcomed the audience, thanking the donors for the tremendous impact they have on our students’ educational experience and for enriching the fabric of the entire Widener community.

Wollman then yielded her time to student president Gabrielle Gehron ’19, who is graduating with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering. Gehron is the recipient of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Widener.  She acknowledged that finances played a part in her decision of which university to attend, but soon found that Widener was the perfect choice for her.

“In Widener, I found a university where my professors and advisors care as much about my education as I do,” she said. “Like so many of the outstanding students in this room, without your help, I may not have been able to attend this exceptional university.”