These Scholarship Matches Will Give Your Gift More Impact

Giving Joy Day is an annual Eastern Washington University event dedicated to showing support for our students and our communities by giving financial gifts and sharing joy in any way. This year, as we look for solutions to the many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are focusing on two important priority areas.

First, we encourage you to take some time to help those who are in need. Use #GivingJoyDay to share on social media the ways in which you are giving joy in our communities. You may be volunteering to bring groceries to your neighbors in need, helping support childcare needs for your family or friends, or even sharing recipes, spring cleaning hacks, gardening tips, or ideas for family activities while kids are out of school.

Our second priority gets right to the critical needs of Eastern students. For those who can give financially, please donate to the Student Emergency Fund. Monies will be used to address students’ immediate needs, such as the technology they need to continue their studies online, as well as basic needs such as food and childcare.

There are many ways, however, to make a commitment to student success. You may want to consider a scholarship fund that will make a lasting impact on students in an area that means the most to you. Each of the scholarship funds below will match your donation, dollar for dollar, to ensure that your gift goes even further during this time of economic uncertainty for Eastern students.

BILL YOUNGS ENDOWMENT
Encouraging Student Research in History and Environmental Studies

Bill Youngs, a professor of history at Eastern Washington University and author of multiple books, is known for leaving a lasting impact on his students.

“Overall, this quarter has brought me a lot of material that I will hold onto for the rest of my life,” says student Nick Abel. “One day, when I teach American history in a middle school or high school, I plan to incorporate some of the same stories we have discussed this quarter.”

Former students have said, “Bill Youngs is my favorite professor,” and fellow faculty, “He’s an institution,” but perhaps it is two former students, now married, who found the most lasting way to honor Youngs: The Bill Youngs Endowment. The fund was established to support a variety of projects in the fields of history or environmental studies. The founders and Youngs want to ensure the awards support student work, for example research expenses, professional travel, publishing and tuition.

Humbled by this honor from his former students, Youngs will match up to $10,000 in donations to the endowment on Giving Joy Day. With your help, and Youngs’ match, the endowment will surely be reached this year, and scholarship awards will recognize deserving students for their exceptional work and support their academic endeavors.

JAMES AND CHERYL DESAUTEL SCHOLARSHIP
Honoring Students Studying Communications

The James and Cheryl Desautel Scholarship is designated for undergraduate students in good academic standing who are studying communications at EWU. Jim and Cher started Desautel Communications and Marketing (now called DH) in their Spokane area basement in 1996. Both credit EWU for much of their professional success.

“We are grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given because of our first-class education at EWU,” say Jim and Cher. “As the first people in our family to receive college educations and graduate degrees, we want to ensure that others like us have access to affordable, high-quality degrees.”

The scholarship is only about $7,000 away from reaching endowment. To reach their goal this year, Jim and Cher will match every Giving Joy Day donation, dollar for dollar, to ensure that the scholarship reaches endowment. With a match in place, this is truly the best time to pledge your support to a scholarship that will help Eastern students reach their potential.

FOX TROT SCHOLARSHIP
A Pathway to Valuable STEM Undergraduate Research

Your donation to help STEM students can go even further this year thanks to an anonymous donor. The Fox Trot Scholarship will benefit undergraduate students in science or math majors who are engaged in research opportunities beyond the classroom. The goal is to encourage students to go above and beyond to learn and apply their knowledge through research opportunities.

Priority will be given to students who have participated in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates in physics, astronomical science, mathematical science, chemistry or biological science.

Research internships can be a financial burden for students. Your gift to this scholarship, paired with a match from the anonymous donor up to $4,321, will help students gain first-class research knowledge and valuable, real-world career experience.