Make a big impact on TU this Big Give

The Opportunities and resources that fuel student success at TU and beyond are, in large part, due to the generosity of our community.

Through TU's Big Give—a university-wide, 24-hour, online fundraising challenge—you have the power to strengthen areas of TU that mean the most to you.

“TU’s future is yours to shape,” says Kristen McCurdy, Director of Annual Giving in TU's Division of University Advancement. “Your philanthropic support means that you are strengthening the scholarships, academic and athletic programs, colleges, emergency funds and more that shape our Tigers’ success.”

So much of students’ experiences at TU are only possible because of donor dollars. Now, with a versatile new platform, taking part in Big Give is even easier.

“We’re really impressed with how efficient the new giving platform is,” says Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “Now, you can use payment options like Apple Pay to give to the programs and academic areas you care most about in half the time.”

The new platform also now allows donors to give directly to over 900 different funds with a quick search.

Hear how your support continues to shape student success and new opportunities from the students themselves.

---

 

Promoting interdisciplinary excellence

Research, professional development and career exploration opportunities are ample at TU for students across disciplines. Honors College and Hill-Lopes scholar Chinenye Ofor ‘26 is no exception. 

With a love for STEM and communications, Ofor is fusing her majors in molecular biology, biochemistry & bioinformatics and communication studies to approach her future STEM career through a mentorship lens.

Programs like the Hill-Lopes Scholars are empowering the next generation of STEM professionals to explore careers in molecular biology, astronomy, STEM education and more.

Ofor’s interdisciplinary success in research, public speaking and mentoring was nurtured by dedicated faculty and staff members in the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the Honors College.

“Nobody starts out college thinking they’re going to conduct research and host a TED Talk,” Ofor says. “TU has allowed me to explore and discover so much, which is really what college is about. Being able to do that in a space where you have the support to do so makes a difference.”

With support from the program and the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Ofor participated in funded research opportunities in molecular biology over the summer.

The relationships she built through networking opportunities and workshops fostered growth in the public speaking realm, where Ofor has pursued opportunities such as hosting a talk at TEDxTowsonU and a workshop on journaling.

“Exploration and discovery in combination with community support have really cemented my time here at TU,” Ofor says.

TU puts you ahead. Hill-Lopes showed me what was possible. We have all these different girls with different STEM majors and different experiences. The program showed me that there’s not only one way or one area to do research in.

CHINENYE OFOR

---

 

Empowering entrepreneurship

When it comes to navigating life as a full-time, working college student, applied scholarships and awards enable students to focus on their professional goals while worrying less about financial stress.

Awards like the Glenn Stearns Scholarship through the College of Business and Economics are enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to balance their tuition costs with investing in their business goals.

Founder of his own car detailing company and business administration major Yannis Carliez applied his scholarship to tuition costs so he could focus more on his business.

“Your business is something you grow yourself. Every dollar I make in my own business is so much more rewarding,” Carliez says. “I’ve learned how to register as an LLC, how to pay my taxes and applied my coursework to my business in real time. It’s a perfect baby step to a bigger business I want to start one day.”

The scholarship couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss, and this scholarship feels like a proof of concept—it demonstrates that I’m on the right track.

YANNIS CARLIEZ, senior in the College of Business & Economics

---

 

Providing paid professional experiences in the arts

Paid experiences in the arts are often hard to come by, but this year TU students have that opportunity through the Summer at the Center Arts Festival. The festival provides meaningful, paid roles for 20 students to grow their skills and gain real-world experience.

Students play vital parts in every aspect of the festival, from performing music in the “1776” production to working on production crews and curating and installing gallery exhibitions.

This year, theatre major Magen Cornacchione is putting her stage management skills into practice by stage managing the festival’s production of “1776,” a fully staged production that reimagines one of America’s defining moments—the signing of the Declaration of Independence—through a contemporary lens.

Throughout their intensive planning and rehearsal time, Cornacchione and her peers are paid and provided on-campus housing—a new benefit to student roles made possible this year through donor support.

“Support empowers them to build confidence, develop their craft and take the next step in their creative journeys,” says Regina Carlow, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Working with such a diverse group of people is so inspiring and meaningful. The talent and dedication that are brought to this program continue to amaze me. I truly believe that this is an experience like no other, and I hope that future students will have the opportunity to work on a show with Summer at the Center.

MAGEN CORNACCHIONE, STAGE MANAGER FOR 1776