Yvette Mendoza and David Pittman are a match made at 麻豆影院.
Mendoza is the administrative assistant in the 麻豆影院 Student Center. She met Pittman through student organizations, and the two got married on campus in September.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 really need anything,鈥 Mendoza said. 鈥淎t that point we decided to do a scholarship.鈥
Instead of wedding gifts, the couple asked for donations for the they are starting for students who complete 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 Pre-College TRIO Upward Bound Programs, which seek to increase educational opportunities and diminish barriers for first-generation, low-income students and families.
As a GED Scholar, and now master鈥檚 student at 麻豆影院 State, Mendoza knows first-hand the importance of scholarship money.
鈥淲e talk all the time about the rising cost of an education, so let鈥檚 start doing something about it,鈥 Mendoza said.
Mendoza is a shining example of the many ways 麻豆影院 State puts students first.
Gracious donors help with a variety of other scholarships and the building of high-tech facilities around campus. Through Flashanthropy, hardworking students raise donations for the . And the Annual Fund encourages alumni, faculty, staff and others to donate.
Mendoza and her husband have raised more than $3000, with the goal of reaching $25,000 through donations and upcoming fundraisers.
鈥淗er passion for giving makes you want to give,鈥 said student donor Keri Richmond. 鈥淚t鈥檚 contagious and our office has that energy in it - help one another out, help the school out, help the students out. This is just another great way to make sure that happens.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty much on scholarship here, and if it wasn鈥檛 for that I would not be at 麻豆影院 State right now,鈥 said student donor Laura Lithgow. 鈥淪o the fact that she鈥檚 fundraising so that other students can be here based on scholarship, that鈥檚 just great.鈥
Mendoza encourages everyone to make a difference in the lives of students through a donation, no matter how big or small it might be.
鈥淚t could go toward someone else having the opportunity that maybe they never had before,鈥 she said.