Gratitude and Inspiration: A Thanksgiving Thank You to Our Scholarship Community
As Thanksgiving approaches, we're filled with immense gratitude for the scholarship providers, clients, colleagues, friends, students, and everyone else who makes our work so meaningful. From the unwavering dedication of colleagues in the scholarship industry to students achieving incredible feats, you help to shape a brighter future. A short thanks from each of us to all of you:
Sarah:
As we head towards Thanksgiving, I'm thankful to be in an industry full of inspiration. I'm continually amazed by the incredible things students are doing (interning with NASA! founding companies and nonprofits! running for mayor!) and the passion of those that work with and support them. Every day brings new opportunities for exciting innovations that can truly impact lives and change the future for the good—and I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to be even a small part of it.
To students, thank you for your commitment to being active, vocal participants in your educations. To faculty, staff, scholarship providers, and parents—thank you for seeing your students and working so hard to support them. The world is a better place because of you.
Julia:
Thank you to our wonderful clients and friends in this field for the thoughtfulness, creativity, and dedication you've shared with us. Your commitment to impactful change for students and innovative ideas make an incredible difference, and we're inspired by the brilliance each of you brings to our community. I feel incredibly fortunate to work each day alongside people I respect, learn from constantly, and genuinely enjoy being around!
To all the students who have collaborated with us, and the many more who have shared your experiences through surveys and focus groups—you are the heart of this work! Your honesty, vulnerability, and passion for your futures drive us to serve you better and inspire our commitment to supporting future generations of students.
Erika:
Humongous thanks to our scholarship community for supporting Students First Consulting! I love that this business has created the opportunity for us to build even more scholarship friends than we had before. Y’all are some of the most passionate, dedicated humans I know, and I feel privileged to be a co-conspirator and collaborator with you. It’s been a kooky year, but let’s keep building together to support students and each other as we make change.
Big thanks, too, to the students who participated with us and our clients this year. A special shout-out from me to two students. Jacob Kriete at the University of Georgia co-presented with me and did interviews at this year’s NSPA conference. Thank you, Jacob! And Veena Kumari at Conestoga College provided marketing support to Students First Consulting. Appreciate you, Veena! Students never fail to amaze me: They’re smart, thoughtful, and see things from a different perspective, which is invaluable to all of us. So thankful to have them as partners and to be able to support their goals and dreams.
Who and what are you giving thanks for this holiday season? We hope it’s a great deal, and that your holidays are filled with the peace and joy that you deserve.
