Be Part of the Success: Give to the Annual Fund

“I’m lucky to have found something that I’m passionate about and lucky to have been able to study it,” says Shawna Shappy, Class of 2008. Shappy may think of herself as lucky, but she is also a bright, hard-working woman, deeply motivated to succeed. As a student in UMass Amherst’s Bachelor’s Degree in an Independent Concentration program, she fulfilled all of her academic requirements in three years, earning as many as 27 credits in one semester—and high marks in her courses. “Through the BDIC program, I was able to put together the best curriculum for me, combining courses in education, psychology, sociology, and communications disorders,” she says.

To afford college, Shappy worked as a therapist to autistic preschoolers. While it gave her essential income, the job was far more than a paycheck to her. It was also meaningful work that complemented her studies in special education. The benefits of being in a program that requires and rewards independent-mindedness were not lost on Shappy, either. BDIC students need to take initiative to get into classes in various departments, for instance, and to chart their own course, with help from their advisors, of course. Maybe that’s why Shappy is looking into entrepreneurial options as well as teaching work.

Scholarships and grants helped Shappy make the most of her time at UMass Amherst. There are so many exceptional students on campus who could benefit from similar support. With financial help, they’ll spend their time studying, not working to pay tuition or going deep into debt. They’ll concentrate on developing their minds, their skills, and their characters through study abroad, athletic endeavors, and internships.

The UMass Amherst Annual Fund has had a banner year this year, raising more dollars and adding more donors to our ranks of supporters than ever before. That means we can help more students like Shawna Shappy accomplish great things.

When we invest in their education, everyone benefits. Please give to the Annual Fund by June 30 and give more students what they need to succeed.