Give Day 2025 a Big Success for Utica Students

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Give Day 2025 a Big Success for Utica Students

“Scholarships represent more than financial support. They are an investment in my potential and my future.”

Utica University’s 2025 Give Day was a huge success, thanks to the generosity of Utica Pioneers across generations, coming together to help make higher education accessible and affordable for students.

Over the span of 40 hours on February 26 and 27, more than 300 donors united to make a difference with contributions to The Fund for Student Success, helping students thrive through things like:

Supporting scholarships to make the Utica experience more affordable
Providing personalized Learning Support and Tutoring resources
And connecting students to meaningful career opportunities

“Scholarships represent more than financial support,” says Kathi Jabe ’25, a Biochemistry student at Utica. “They are an investment in my potential and my future.”

Photo of Gian Piranio with quote "With scholarship support, I am able to continue my studies with less financial burden and focus on making a difference in the world through Physical Therapy."

The day was filled with various challenges and incentives to help bring vital support for scholarships and financial aid - challenges such as an additional $1,000 from retired Professor Bill Blanchfield when 200 donors were reached.

The first 20 parents who made a gift of any size triggered an additional matching gift of $50 from Pioneer parents Barb and Art Knauf and some donors received $25 gift cards from Lafa Mediterranean when they made donations of $25 or more during the “Power Hour” from 5-6 p.m. each day.

“Words cannot describe how invaluable scholarships are to me,” says James Hymon ’25. “I'm not the richest guy in the world, that's obvious, so being able to afford to study for a degree that I really care about, it means the world to me. I also have to shout out the Center for Career Readiness for helping me assemble a resume that I'm really proud of, and I'm sure will assist greatly in my future endeavors.

Thanks to the benevolence of so many, these gifts are going to help deserving students unlock the promise of a university education, regardless of their financial background.