ENMU student to speak about scholarship

By Anna GeorgeStaff Writerageorge@pntonline.com

The Eastern New Mexico University alumni association is sending ENMU Senior Amy Carter to speak in Albuquerque to donors and sponsors about how their scholarships have affected her life.

Carter was awarded the alumni scholarship for $1,500. She will speak at the ENMU Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament in Albuquerque on July 8.According to Alumni Director Robert Graham, following the golf tournament the associates will also hold a reception where 10,000 prospective students, current students and alumni are invited to attend.

Carter, a theater major at ENMU with big international plans following her graduation, said she is excited for this opportunity since the scholarship is a big contributor to why she stayed at ENMU after graduating from Portales High School.

Carter said she was offered a full talent scholarship to the Santa Fe University of Art and Design but with dorm costs was still unable to attend due to money.

She said, however, with the help of the scholarship given to her by the alumni association she is attending ENMU debt free and is even able to see potential graduate schools in England this summer.

She will attend Guild Hall School of Music and Drama in London for a week-long theater camp at the beginning of August as a test run.

"What the donors do does make a difference and has made a difference to me," said Carter, who is the child of two ENMU graduates.

Graham said they have the students talk because it humanizes their donations and makes it less business oriented.

"It personalizes the generosity of the corporate sponsors and the individual donors," said Graham.

ENMU Board President Terry Othick said another important reason they invite scholarship recipients is because it shows them what goes into receiving their scholarship money.

"We have been soliciting sponsors since December, this takes half a year and it certainly isn't an easy job," said Othick.

Golf Tournament Director and ENMU Board of Regents President Terry Othick said what amazes him the most about the tournament is that the sponsors generally have very little tie to ENMU other than their support for higher education.

"Well, you'll ask a lot of our donors 'when did you graduate from ENMU?' and most of the time they say, 'I didn't go there, I just believe in what you are doing,'" Othick said.

Source: ENMU student to speak about scholarship