CIU students excited to meet their scholarship donors

Annual luncheon brings students and donors face-to-face

By Bob Holmes

David Wolff calls it “one of the highlight days” of his year. Wolff and his wife Diane were among 85 Columbia International University scholarship donors who became acquainted with the students they support at the annual CIU Scholarship Luncheon.

After the meal, dozens of students took turns at the microphone personally thanking donors for making their education possible. International students and MKs added “thank you” in a tongue perhaps more familiar to them than English.

“This event gives me hope and refreshment for our future to sit across from young people who love Jesus and love their neighbor as much as they love themselves,” David Wolff said.

The Wolffs live in Florence, South Carolina now, but ministered in Kenya for five years. They were thrilled to be seated with students who have lived in Africa.

“We made a connection and we feel like, oh, we want to invest in these kids even more!” Diane Wolff said with a smile and excitement. “It was very impactful for us.”

Emily Flora, a senior majoring in Digital Media & Cinema expressed her gratitude for the donors’ financial assistance.  

“It really helps me focus on school, and means a lot that someone cares enough to donate to help the next generation,” Flora said. “I was really excited to meet them.”  

Flora plans to use her degree in church media ministry.

“I love cameras, I love production, I love to minister to people,” Flora said. “I get to do all of that in church media.”

CIU President Dr. Mark Smith added his thanks to the donors saying, “It means so much to our students.”

“Our students go out with far less debt than a lot of places, and that’s because of you," Smith said. I thank God for that.”

For information on how you can assist CIU students as they impact the nations with the message of Christ, contact CIU’s Advancement Office at (803) 807-5006 or email advancement@ciu.edu.

Columbia International University ranks #1 among colleges and universities in South Carolina by BestColleges.com. Excitement is growing on campus with the new $20 million William H. Jones Global Business & IT Center and CIU’s first baseball program. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.