The Value of Endowed Scholarships

Good evening, members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished faculty, staff, and the visionary donors who make the Norwich mission possible.

My name is Jose Velasco, and I am a junior biochemistry major from Elkridge, Maryland. I transferred to the University as a junior from the New Mexico Military Institute, where I was enrolled in the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program. Unlike my peers at the New Mexico Military Institute, I didn’t commission within two years. I needed an extra year to fulfill the last requirements of my contract.

With that in mind, like so many students who find their way to this Hill, I arrived with a specific drive to serve, aiming for a career in the United States Army National Guard and a federal career in forensics. When I committed to Norwich University, however, there was a lot of uncertainty, whether I’d be let into the Army ROTC program, the challenges I’d face as a Rook within the Corps of Cadets, but more importantly, whether I’d be able to afford two years at Norwich University without a scholarship. I’ve come to realize that taking out loans is a common occurrence in the United States, with millions of Americans taking out loans annually. Not everyone can do or afford that. I’ve learned talent is universal, but opportunity is not. For many of the students here, however, the financial support provided by the people in this room has been the key that has unlocked our potential.

When a student’s tuition is covered by scholarships, it changes their day-to-day lives. It means that instead of us balancing a full-time job alongside a full-time credit load, we can spend those same hours in the lab doing research, on the field playing sports, the library studying, or simply spending time with those around us.

I have seen this firsthand. Along with having received the National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship, I was the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, as well as the J. Walter Juckett Scholarship. The Juckett Scholarship is a perfect example of the Norwich legacy; it was
established to support students across the fields of engineering, science, and mathematics, ensuring that the next generation of innovators isn't held back by financial barriers.

Because of the scholarships, support, and time that support has allotted students like myself,
we’ve been able to represent Norwich at national conferences and engage in work that prepares us for industry, academic, or the world. Such conferences I’ve been to include the Emerging
Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Atlanta. While there, I had the opportunity to learn from STEM professionals and network with undergraduate researchers from across the country.

That experience was a turning point for me, solidifying my decision to pursue graduate school and inspired me to continue my research this summer under the mentorship and guidance of Dr.
Emma Barrett. I am currently focused on continuing the work of senior Carver Moyer to
experiment and determine other properties of his synthesized peptide, which has been designed to bind and filter uranium out of drinking water. This work, using science to solve critical environmental and safety challenges, is exactly what prepares me for a future of service in forensics and the National Guard. And I am proud to say that many of my fellow student-researchers are using their scholarship-funded time to tackle similarly vital challenges across every department on this campus.

To those of you who have created endowed scholarships: I want you to know that your investment goes far beyond the classroom. It buys students the opportunity for mentorship. Because of these programs, we don’t just learn from a textbook; we learn from leaders. We sit across the table from national experts and work side-by-side with professors who treat us as future colleagues. This culture of looking out for one another is the heartbeat of this school, building in us the value of giving back.

The peace of mind provided by these scholarships has also given me the capacity to give back. It allowed me the time to serve as a tutor and mentor to my peers, as well as begin a tutoring business, to give back to the communities that I’ve been a part of. In my work as a tutor, I see the direct result of your investment: I see the light go on for other students who, because they aren't stressed about their next payment, finally have the mental space to master a difficult concept.
That is the true return on your investment: you aren't just funding a student; you are fueling a cycle of mentorship where we all pull each other up.

As I look toward my final year at Norwich and my eventual goals in graduate school, I am
acutely aware that no student on this Hill stands alone. Every success achieved here is a shared success. I take immense pride in being part of a community that values the act of giving back. Norwich is defined by this partnership: the action of donors giving back to a school they love,
and the action of students working hard every day to prove that your investment was well-placed.

This summer, I am now set to commission, and it genuinely wouldn’t have been possible had I been working a full-time job, not focused on my studies or not going to the gym. I know I speak for all scholarship recipients when I say that we wholeheartedly hope to one day be in your
shoes, and give back to Norwich as much as much as it has given us.

Thank you for making Norwich a place where a student’s future is determined by the reach of their hard work. Because of you, we aren't just students; we are researchers, leaders, and the next generation of servants to our nation.

Thank you, may God bless you all, and enjoy the rest of your evening.