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Development and Alumni Relations

Fulfilling a Dream to Help GW Students in Need


Trustee Emerita Nancy Broyhill, BA ’65

For Trustee Emerita Nancy Broyhill, BA ’65, The George Washington University represents an opportunity for students and alumni alike: for students, a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience, and for alumni, the chance to give back to the University that shaped their lives.

The daughter of two former GW students, Ms. Broyhill loved the vibrancy of GW from her first day on campus. Having grown up in a political family—her father was a U.S. congressman—she knew immediately that attending college in the heart of the nation’s capital was her “cup of tea.”

As a student in the public affairs program, Ms. Broyhill noticed that many of her classmates worked full-time jobs, in addition to their rigorous course work, to finance their schooling and make ends meet.

Even as a young undergraduate, she recognized the immense strain on these students and their burden of securing financial aid—a burden she would later work to alleviate. Following graduation, Ms. Broyhill became involved in the GW Alumni Association and eventually became the association’s president. Soon after, Ms. Broyhill was asked to serve on GW’s Board of Trustees, a role she filled for 25 years.

“Serving on the Board of Trustees was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” Ms. Broyhill says. “I was able to stay involved with the campus and the students, meet interesting people across a broad professional spectrum, and really understand the challenges facing the University.”

In light of her experiences as a student, alumna volunteer, and trustee, Ms. Broyhill wanted to give back in an important way. In addition to the annual contributions she has made since 1979, she established an endowed scholarship fund in honor of her father, the late Joel T. Broyhill, an 11-term congressman from Arlington County, Va. The Joel T. Broyhill Scholarship Fund for Public Policy Studies provides an annual merit-based scholarship to an undergraduate student studying political science or a student pursuing an advanced degree in public policy who also demonstrates financial need.

Three years ago, Ms. Broyhill discovered another way to enhance the scholarship. With an upcoming remarriage and overseas honeymoon fast approaching, she knew that her will needed updating. Not having the time to sit down with an attorney, she purchased software and rewrote her will on her own, making sure to include a bequest to benefit The George Washington University. “I always knew that I wanted to make a planned gift to GW. I just hadn’t gotten around to updating my will,” Ms. Broyhill says.

At the suggestion of the GW Planned Giving staff, Ms. Broyhill designated her bequest to further support the Joel T. Broyhill Scholarship. It is her hope that as the endowment grows, the scholarship will encourage young people to pursue a career in politics or public service while taking full advantage of their proximity to Capitol Hill and the internships and experiences available.

“It would never occur to me not to give,” Ms. Broyhill says. “Since graduating, I have seen the University blossom in so many ways. For many alumni, our time at GW has opened doors for us, whether through the value of a diploma or meaningful life experiences. We now have the capacity and responsibility to support future students, and to give them the same chance we were given. This is an opportunity we cannot pass up.”

The GW Power & Promise Fund

“Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness.”
—George Washington, First Annual Message, January 8, 1790

In December 2009, George Washington University President Steven Knapp announced The GW Power & Promise Fund, naming the University’s efforts to increase the philanthropic support of financial aid. In a letter to the community, President Knapp noted that “the fund will ensure that qualified students, regardless of their financial resources, can take full advantage of a GW education. It will also help us reduce the loan burdens of our graduates so the cost of their education will not limit their ability to make their mark on the world, regardless of the professional paths they choose.”

Nationwide, the percentage of undergraduate students applying for federal aid, obtaining loans, and filing aid appeals has risen sharply over the past several years. At George Washington, the number of undergraduate applicants seeking financial aid jumped 10 percent this year, and student aid appeals are running 8 percent ahead of last year.

The University remains grateful for the continued support of alumni, parents, and friends. There has already been support for the GW Power & Promise Fund. The Annual Fund has seen a 42 percent increase in the dollars raised and a 25 percent increase in the actual number of gifts. Your gift will help students who come to GW to make a difference. With your help they really will change the world.

To learn more about the GW Power & Promise Fund, visit www.gwu.edu/give, or contact Matt Banks at 202-994-5125 or mbanks@gwu.edu.


Theiline Gborkorquellie, SMHS ’13
Cecile and Seymour Alpert MD
Endowed Fund

Theiline Gborkorquellie chose to attend GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences because of the university’s strong commitment to community service, which, she notes, “is very important to me in a medical institution.” She also was impressed by the inviting, cooperative, and caring environment.

This Alpert Scholarship, she notes, was the determining factor in her decision to attend The George Washington University. “Given the rising costs of a medical school education, I needed as much financial aid as possible to help reduce my accumulating loan debt. This award also strengthened my motivation to perform well academically.

“My ultimate goal is to help create a culture of preventive care in high risk communities as a medical professional. Whether I open a clinic or invest my resources in educational efforts, I wish to empower those who suffer needlessly.”


Sarah Ginsberg, CCAS ’10
Lindner Family Scholarship

Sarah Ginsberg knew she wanted to study art history. Thanks to support she received for the 2008-09 school year through the Lindner Scholarship Fund, she is realizing her academic goals at GW.

“This scholarship was has been extremely helpful to me and my family,” she says. “It made it possible for me to continue attending GW rather than transferring to a less expensive college. Also, I can work fewer hours on my job and focus much more on my academics.”

Attending GW, Ms. Ginsberg says she has “discovered new strengths,” and she has learned that “if I work hard and put all my effort into something, I can achieve my goal.” She hopes to attend law school after graduation.


Ki Yong Yi, SMPA ’11
Kim Family Endowed Scholarship

Ki Yong Yi believes the Kim Family Scholarship opened doors to a world of opportunity in America. Mr. and Mrs. Yong Hoon Kim of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., established the endowment to support promising undergraduate students like Mr. Yi.

“I love GW’s surroundings and Washington, D.C., is truly an amazing place to go to school,” Mr. Yi says. “Besides the obvious fact that the Kim Family Scholarship helped my financial situation so I could do this, it also represents the hope and motivation that fuels my ambitions.”

After graduation, Mr. Yi aspires to be “a respected figure of the journalism world” by securing a position with a prominent news broadcast service (“hopefully CNN”). Mr. Yi says he is most proud of being chosen to present his scholarly research at the spring 2008 University Writing and Research Symposium.


The GW Power & Promise Fund 2009-10 Statistics

GW Undergraduate Statistics

60 percent of undergraduate students (about two-thirds of the undergraduate population) receive financial assistance

$133 million—the amount the University provides in scholarships and grants each year

$21,687—the average annual need-based grant for an undergraduate student

$30,000—the average debt burden of a graduating senior

GW Medical School Statistics

83.5 percent of medical students receive financial assistance

$32 million—the total financial assistance awarded 

$3.73 million— the amount the Medical School provides in scholarship assistance

$13,522—the average institutional scholarship award in the Medical School (approximately 39 percent of medical students qualified)

GW Law School Statistics

47 percent of the Law School population receives a grant

$18 million—the amount the Law School provides its students in scholarships and grants

$58 million—the amount that 1,300 students borrowed this year to go to the Law School

$145,000—the average debt burden of a Law School graduating senior


Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarships and fellowships are the lifeblood of the GW Power & Promise Fund. They can ensure a student’s education for a year, four years, or in perpetuity. Your gift can be designated to the academic area you are most passionate about or toward the students you want to help the most, such as athletes or veterans. The scholarship can bear your name, memorialize a loved one, or honor a beloved faculty member, colleague, or mentor.

The George Washington University has many options for you to participate in the GW Power & Promise Fund. Please contact your development officer or Matt Banks at 202-994-5125 or mbanks@gwu.edu.

Squashing the Competition

GW is the first school in the country to offer squash scholarships.


William Atkins

It’s a lot like tennis. The ball is softer and the racquets longer, but the increasingly popular sport of squash is every bit as intense as its better-known sister sport. Just ask the student athletes of GW’s squash teams.

Since the sport officially came to The George Washington University in 2002, both the men’s and women’s teams have been climbing the national rankings and earning a reputation as fierce competitors. Players practice up to six days a week and face off with some of the toughest opponents in the country. But GW squash has one thing the other schools don’t: scholarships.

In 2009, George Washington became the first school in the country to offer athletic scholarships to its squash players under the umbrella of The GW Power & Promise Fund. The fund removes a huge financial burden from the athletes and allows them to focus on their studies and their commitment to the team. “It’s a real benefit to us,” says Wendy Lawrence, coach of the men’s squash team. “GW’s squash program is continually creeping up in the rankings, and we’re aiming to compete closely against the Ivy League teams in a few years. These scholarships help us do that.”

The squash program is able to provide the scholarships thanks in large part to a $100,000 gift from Jeffrey and Pamela Grossman, whose son, Matt, is a member of the men’s team. “Providing an endowment for the men’s and women’s squash teams ensures that the program has a bright future,” Mr. Grossman says. “Students who attend GW after our son has graduated can continue the team’s legacy while participating in varsity athletics for a world renowned institution of higher learning.”

Contributions like the Grossmans’ help students take full advantage of everything GW has to offer, all while reducing loan burdens and enhancing GW’s schools and programs. “GW squash has made tremendous progress since 2002,” Ms. Lawrence says. “The new scholarships are a great testament to the hard work of our athletes and the strength of this program.”

The GW Power & Promise Fund is an essential part of the University’s mission to provide a first-class education to qualified students, regardless of their financial situation. For information on how you can help support student aid within the school or program of your choice, please contact Dan Rocha at 202-994-9366 or drocha@gwu.edu. You can also learn more about the GW Power & Promise Fund at www.gwu.edu/give.

Update: Charles E. Smith Center Transformation


Phases I and II of the Charles E. Smith Center transformation are complete and have been enjoyed by thousands of GW students, parents, and members of the community for sporting and special events.

Phase III, the final renovation phase, will include a complete rebuilding of the exterior facade, which will be a striking glass side of the modern building. Interior projects include the concessions concourse, box office, and additional entrances with lobbies on the second and third floors to ease the flow of attendee traffic and allow visitors more comfort. This phase includes reworking of two auxiliary gyms used by nearly every sport, from cricket to field hockey.

For more information on how you can participate in the transformation with a gift to the Charles E. Smith Center, please contact Dan Rocha at 202-994-9366 or drocha@gwu.edu.

Parents Campaign Report Available

The GW Parents Campaign is pleased to present its 2009 Donor Report. As part of a University‑wide effort to increase sustainability, the report may be found exclusively online at www.gwu.edu/give/parentscampaign.

Dates Finalized for Alumni Weekend 2010

All alumni are invited to join us for Alumni Weekend 2010 from Thursday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 3. Don’t miss this monumental opportunity to reconnect with classmates, GW, and D.C.!

Class reunions will be held for the classes of 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1960! A reunion celebration for all alumni of the GW Student Association and a reunion for all SA presidents will also occur during the weekend.

We need your help to plan events and encourage fellow classmates to attend. If you would like to nominate yourself or a classmate to serve on a reunion committee, please contact Stephanie Medwid, associate director of classes and reunions, at reunion@gwu.edu or visit www.alumni.gwu.edu/aw.

From The GWAA President

Dear Fellow Colonials,

Michael Brosgart, Cate Doyle, and Chris Young. These are just three of the many GW alumni with career services success stories.

Mr. Brosgart, BA ’05, is the director of conferences and special projects with LatinFinance. Recently, he was looking to hire a Latin American conference programmer and spoke with staff in Alumni House and the GW Career Center. Ms. Doyle, BA ’08, had recently moved to Miami and was looking for work. She found the LatinFinance job posting on the GWork career site, applied, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mr. Young, BBA ’80, MAccy ’83, is a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and a former GW Alumni Association president. He has worked with the GW Career Center to hire dozens of top GW graduates at Deloitte in the past several years. His organization is a better place because of the skills of these staffers, and Mr. Young has helped strengthen the GW bonds among scores of Colonials.

I want to continue to hear about these success stories. For those of you not already in the know, here are career services currently offered to GW graduates.

We offer tools to help alumni Build Your Career:

  • Search the online Career Advisor Network for alumni contacts
  • Meet with career consultants to prepare for the next phase of your career
  • Network with the 10,500-plus members of our LinkedIn group
  • Search thousands of job postings on GWork

We also encourage alumni who are more established professionally to take the time to Help Fellow Colonials:

  • Post jobs at your organization on GWork and the GW Alumni LinkedIn group
  • Share insights with students and alumni through the Career Advisor Network
  • Network with the 10,500-plus members of our LinkedIn group
  • Connect with students by hosting a dinner, delivering a lecture, providing career advice, etc.

Visit alumni.gwu.edu/career to learn more about these opportunities.

In late January, the GW Alumni Association Executive Committee met with GW President Steven Knapp to discuss the University’s career services for alumni. I am happy to report that it was a productive meeting. Frank Kent, MA ’81, the GWAA vice president for Career Services, was particularly persuasive in discussing the importance of alumni career services and how additional investments can pay long-term dividends for the University.

President Knapp has pledged to work with other GW staff members to take a hard look at the University’s career service offerings for students and alumni. In particular, he mentioned developing a more cross-disciplinary approach to career services and improving the use of technology to deliver career services and connect members of the GW community.

The feedback we have received from alumni through surveys, our LinkedIn group, and face-to-face conversations has been crucial in highlighting career services as an important focus area for your GW Alumni Association. We thank each of you for your feedback; your voice has been heard! As the University moves forward with initiatives surrounding career services, we will be sure to keep alumni informed and engaged.

If you have any ideas for additional career services we can offer to alumni, please let me know by e-mailing me at www.gwaa@gwu.edu.

Sincerely,

Laura Taddeucci Downs, BA ’92, MA ’95
President, GW Alumni Association, 2009-11
alumni.gwu.edu/gwaa

Save on TV and Internet with New Alumni Benefit

A new special offer from RCN offers GW graduates digital TV and high-speed Internet for a discounted rate of $69.99 a month. You can add unlimited nationwide phone service to the package for just $20 more.

“As a graduate of GW’s School of Business, I’m happy to extend these special offers to my fellow alumni,” says RCN President and CEO Peter Aquino, MBA ’90.

Call 1-888-RCN-GW81 or visit www.rcn.com/gw to learn more about this great benefit!

RCN digital service is offered in the Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions. Please contact RCN directly to learn if RCN is your neighborhood provider.