First recipient selected for theater scholarship
Ask senior Arin Dooley how she has managed to devote countless hours to OSU theater while also working two jobs and maintaining Honor Roll grades, and her answer is simple: "It's a passion, it's what I love to do. It's what I need to do."
After entrancing audiences in roles such as Benvolia in the 2006 Bard on the Quad production of Romeo and Juliet, Arin's hard work paid off with a delightful surprise this fall when she was named the first recipient of the Peggy and Justin Hawkwood Scholarship in the Dramatic Arts.
It was the idea of helping students like Arin that inspired two young graduates to create this scholarship -- in lieu of wedding presents.
As class of 2000 alumni who met through an OSU theater production, Peggy Ringle and Justin Lundy had watched friends struggle to balance classes, jobs, and the plays they loved. "Our best OSU memories are from the theater department," Peggy said. "We wanted to give a little reward to some of the very dedicated people who pour their hearts into these shows."
When the couple got married in 2003, Peggy and Justin invited friends and family to forgo the usual gifts of toasters and towels and instead contribute to an endowed scholarship fund: one that will make awards in perpetuity. With help from both sets of parents -- including John and Judy Ringle, who have taught OSU theater classes and appeared on stage themselves -- the fund grew large enough to yield its first $500 award.
The Hawkwood Scholarship illustrates how many small gifts, united, can make a dramatic difference for OSU students. This is what The Campaign for OSU is all about. When you make your gift, you are joining thousands of alumni and friends to support the programs you care about most and raise the university to the next level of excellence. The impact we can make today -- together -- will last for generations.
Arin observed, "When a lot of people think of giving, they picture millionaires and think, 'I could never do that.' This scholarship proves -- yeah, you can. We can all give in little ways."
