CIU Students Grateful for Scholarship Donors

CIU Students Grateful for Scholarship Donors

CIU donor luncheon
CIU Donor Appreciation Luncheon

CIU student Doran Caleb Batterman chats with scholarship donor Jim B. Apple. (Photos by Caleb Pringle, CIU student photographer)

By Bob Holmes

Vladyslav Hruntkovskyi wants to go back to his home country of the Ukraine to serve in the world of business. But the Business & Organizational Leadership major told CIU scholarship donors that he couldn’t do it without their help.

“Your sacrifice is the foundation for our lives,” Hruntkovskyi said at the annual spring CIU Donor Luncheon with scholarship recipients. “When you are serving the Lord, you are also serving us.” 

Dozens of other CIU students stepped up to a microphone to express similar thoughts.  

“Thank you for the way your donations have been a conduit of faith in my life,” added Emily Bennett, a Youth Ministry, Family & Culture major.

Before the luncheon, the donors also attended a Chapel service where Keith Marion, CIU vice president of estate and gift planning, said that he prays for the day when all CIU students graduate “unencumbered by debt.”

“Let’s help this generation go unencumbered so that in a greater way than ever before, they can take the gospel,” Marion said.

That resonated with CIU scholarship donor Ginny Brant, who is also an alumna of the Class of ’77.

“It’s a wonderful thing that so many of the students will come out debt-free and unencumbered. That’s critical.” Brant said. “If you’re going into Christian service or social work or education like so many of these students, you really cannot have (debt) on your back to serve God.”

It was also a day of celebration for CIU President Dr. Mark Smith as it was announced that through donations, a new $13,000 endowed scholarship would be named for Smith and his wife Debbie.

“Needless to say, I’m shocked,” Smith said from the Chapel podium adding that the Smiths will match the $13,000 in the scholarship.     

In addition, Smith was surprised by the CIU Alumni Association as they named him an Honorary Alumnus.

The Chapel was held the day before Smith’s birthday, and in honor of the day, several students wore t-shirts with the word WOW printed on them, representing Smith’s desire to add “The WOW Factor” to the campus through various improvements.

“I love the t-shirts,” Smith told the students.

Find out more about CIU financial aid, growth in enrollment and $25 million in expansion plans. Information on CIU programs and enrollment is available here or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024. CIU is accredited by SACS-COC.