Beth Bernhardt '05 and Professor Bart De Stasio '82.

Beth Bernhardt ’05 appreciates the diverse academic and social outlets she enjoyed as a student.  A recipient of several grants and named scholarships, Beth thinks it’s important to consistently give back to Lawrence for many reasons.

She feels the Lawrence community should feel particularly proud of the caliber of its faculty and camaraderie amongst the student body.  She fondly remembers the important role faculty members, like Bart De Stasio ’82 Associate Professor of Biology, played as mentors during her academic journey.  She credits the dedication and willingness of the faculty to nurture her interests in helping to determine her own career path.

Beth feels that she would never have enjoyed these experiences at a large state school, or even similar liberal arts college. According to Beth, Lawrence will always be remembered as, “Four years of my life in which I learned a lot, and also had a ton of fun!” back to top

Anna Corey '04 credits Lawrence's well-rounded academic education with setting a solid foundation for her as a medical student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Anna truly believes that she came into her own at Lawrence.

According to Anna, "I give to The Lawrence Fund because I whole heartedly subscribe to the liberal arts education philosophy." Anna believes, "Lawrence provides its students with all of the opportunities and tools for self-discovery." She hopes that as a result of the generous contributions of alumni, Lawrence can continue to improve the quality of its educational experience and allow many more students the opportunity to grow.  back to top

Anna Corey '04

Jennifer Dieter ’03  “It's difficult to determine exactly why I give.   Lawrence was obviously instrumental in shaping who I am today, and I certainly care about giving current students the same opportunities I had.   I also feel a certain obligation to give.   

"I received scholarship support (beyond the hidden grant that reduces tuition for all) and learned first hand the impact The Lawrence Fund has on life at Lawrence through my four years as a development office student worker and as a member of The Lawrence Fund student team.   Mostly, Lawrence gave me so much - many of my close friends, leadership skills, the ability to think, read, and write critically, and my career (literally).   What I give back through an annual gift seems minor in comparison.” back to top

Elena Doucet-Beer ’01 “While employed with the staff of the Lawrence University Development Office, I learned a great deal about the work that goes into fundraising efforts.  Even though I graduated a few years ago, I still continue to work with the Development Office on the Viking Gift Committee, informing other young alumni about the importance of giving and participation.  The act of giving is so important, for corporate matching, student scholarships, faculty retention, and operational needs.  I know that just by participating I can help Lawrence advance.

"I feel very fortunate to have had the strong undergraduate education that I did.  Alumni giving is an integral way to give back so that current Lawrence students have the same types of opportunities that we were afforded.” back to top

Elena Doucet-Beer '01

Josh Dukelow ’02 "I give to LU for a very simple reason.  It feels good!  Everyday I see ways that my Lawrence education is paying dividends, and I know that the only way to keep that up is to support the college.  That is also the only way to ensure that subsequent generations have the same opportunity we had.  I feel great knowing that my gifts help to sustain the future of Lawrence." back to top

Chuck Erickson '02 "So I am still a recent alum who has debt from my time at Lawrence as well as from graduate school, but I still manage to give something back.

"No, it is not because Lawrence is my employer as well as my alma mater. It is because I really don't know where I would be without my Lawrence education, experiences, and fellow alumni.

"As I began my graduate work, I quickly realized how much Lawrence had prepared me for the challenges of paper writing, presentations, and balancing my work and studies. I know that without the help of alumni donations, my education at Lawrence might not have prepared me as well.

"As far as experiences, I can't imagine another school that would allow a student to study music education and Spanish, graduate with two degrees, study abroad, be a leader in two fraternities, hold a job in the admissions office, and have all of the awesome memories from living on campus. I admit. I was very busy and I loved EVERY minute of it! I also realized, when I went to graduate school, there were very few extras (sporting events, lectures, concerts, student organizations) that I had to pay an extra fee for at Lawrence in order to be involved.

"Lastly, the Lawrence alumni. Whether it is chatting with the Golden alumni at Reunion Weekend, meeting an alum in the Twin Cities who was wearing an LU sweatshirt, visiting Björklunden in the summer, or chatting on Facebook, the connections that alumni have with each other and with Lawrence are amazing! Remember this: if you had NOT gone to Lawrence, think of all those friends you might never have met otherwise.

"So why do I donate to Lawrence? It's simple. I give to Lawrence, because Lawrence has given me education, experiences, and life-long friends." back to top

Jennifer Foth '03 "I give to The Lawrence Fund because I believe in liberal arts education.  I give to The Lawrence Fund because I value Lawrence's mission and dedication to individualized learning.   I give to The Lawrence Fund because I am passionate about opening doors and providing growth opportunities for future students.  I give to The Lawrence Fund because someone did it for me when I was a student.

"Giving to The Lawrence Fund is my symbolic way of saying thank you.   A thank you that extends beyond the classroom.  Its a thank you to the art work that made me stop and reflect, to the music that filled the chapel, to the speakers who shared their stories and inspired us to keep learning.  I give for future students' Lawrence difference." back to top

Kristin Hoffmann Lanari ’02 “I give to Lawrence because without the generosity of past givers, my scholarships would not have existed and I could not have attended such a wonderful school.  Although I am not able to give a lot, I like to think that if we all gave just small amounts it would add up to help one deserving student attend Lawrence and have access to the best academic and life experiences.  Perhaps that one student would be able to make a difference in the world because of the experiences he or she had at Lawrence.” back to top

Cameron Kramlich '02

Cameron Kramlich ’02 "As a member of the Lawrence community, I feel that it is my responsibility to ensure that current and future generations of Lawrentians have the incredible opportunities, and more, that I shared with my classmates.

"A hundred top institutions offer a liberal arts education.  I'm fortunate to have three siblings who either attend or have attended similar schools. Through their experience I more greatly appreciate the unique opportunities afforded to me by the individualized education at Lawrence.  By supporting Lawrence, I hope that more people will share the experiences I cherish.

"I support the school because I want to transmit my Lawrence experience not only not less, but greater than it was transmitted to me.

"I learned to appreciate my Lawrence education after graduation.  I keep on finding myself in situations when I discover aspects of my college education taken for granted, such as how to write a comprehensive 2 page memo, are actually quite unique.  By supporting Lawrence I hope that more people will share the incredible opportunities offered by previous generations to me." back to top

Megan Meyerhofer ’06 "I support Lawrence because of the friendships I gained while I was a student. I look back on my college years (which were not too long ago) and think about all the great memories that were made. All of the baseball and basketball games, trips to the VR and late night study sessions are what made my time at Lawrence so memorable!

"I am grateful that I attended Lawrence and got the chance to meet so many amazing people. In my opinion, every Lawrentian made a friend or had an awesome experience that is worth a gift to The Lawrence Fund ­— which provides future students the same opportunities." back to top

Erica Moore Callaham ’00 “I believe that Lawrence offers experiences which mold young people into quality individuals.  I love meeting Lawrentians because they always have unique stories to tell about their journey since life at LU.  Lawrence alums are the type of people whom I want to see as leaders in my community.  I am willing to give my time and money to ensure that students have the opportunity to become such individuals.” back to top

Jaime Nodarse ’05 “Giving back to Lawrence each year is something I believe in strongly.  My experience at Lawrence helped me grow academically and personally in ways that I would not have done if I had gone to another school.  For me, giving back is my way of thanking professors who encouraged me to pursue the subjects I was passionate about, who pushed me to think critically and challenge myself and who supported me when I was unsure of my own abilities.  I would not have found a discipline I adore had it not been for their guidance, challenging and support.

"I also give back in appreciation of the quality people I met at Lawrence and for the relationships I formed with these people.  Classmates, teammates, and dorm-mates became my closest friends and those ties would not have been created had we not gone to Lawrence.   By giving back I hope to ensure that future Lawrentians are able to have the same positive experiences I had as a student.” back to top

" This edification was possible only with the subsidy offered by other alums.  The Lawrence Fund knocks about $15,500 off the bill for each student before any scholarships take effect.  I want to be a part of that magnanimity.  In addition I wish to see Lawrence grow as a university; I hope to drop ‘Lawrence University’ into conversation and have all listening know exactly what the Lawrence community already knows about itself: unequaled individual academic attention, excellent student leadership and entrepreneurial development, resources for enthusiastic students to accomplish any goal on campus, and student empowerment matched by only a select other schools in the country.  These are the reasons I give.” back to top

David Scott '02 “I give to Lawrence because I believe in Lawrence and because I have connections to Lawrence.  My charitable giving is directed towards organizations in whose mission I believe and whom I believe achieve that mission in an effective manner.  Both of those characterize Lawrence.  Lawrence's mission of providing an excellent, liberal-arts education in a socially rich, residential environment is one in which I believe whole-heartedly.  This belief comes, in part, from my own experience of the benefit of such an education.  I believe Lawrence achieves its mission in a wonderful manner — Freshman studies, independent studies, interdisciplinary approaches, class discussion, multiple student organizations, a world-class conservatory of music, Björklunden, and on-campus housing all make Lawrence very good at doing what it does.  When you embed this excellent collegial enterprise in a rich web of personal relationships to faculty, staff, and most importantly, other alumni, my giving to Lawrence is assured.” back to top

Jenna Stone ’00 “As clichéd as it sounds, I give because I am grateful: for extraordinary professors, for four years in a community of geeky and intellectually curious people, for the friends I made, for an education that taught me to think critically and argue cogently.

"My heart still lifts when I walk across campus and look up at Main Hall, or drive down College Avenue at night and see the cupola and the Chapel lit.   Every time.

"Making a gift to The Lawrence Fund each year seems like the least I can do to say 'thank you' for all of the things that Lawrence gave me.” back to top