Students and their scholarship donors recently spent time together at the 10th Annual Benefactor Luncheon to celebrate the power of philanthropy in their lives. Stetson hosts this event each spring to connect students who receive donor-funded scholarships with the benefactors who made their scholarships possible.

The luncheon is a great way to engage alumni and donors in the life of the university and see firsthand the impact of their giving. It is especially meaningful to those benefactors who are Stetson alumni.

“You are the future leaders of Stetson,” said Steve Alexander ’85 alongside his wife, Lee, to students in an audience of approximately 125 people that also included faculty chair holders and scholarship benefactors. Steve Alexander is a Stetson trustee and managing director/partner at PFM Asset Management LLC, while Lee Alexander is the Training & Event Consultant to The PFM Group.

“To see all of you come here, go through your four years, then graduate and move on to your careers and life — to be a small part of that is just an amazing accomplishment for us,” Alexander said. “We want to wish you the best through your years at Stetson.”

The event was also special for students as they deepened their connection with Stetson alumni and friends, and realized their role in helping others who might follow in their footsteps.

“What [scholarship benefactors] are doing goes beyond bestowing upon us the honor of attending Stetson,” said Patrick Cone ’15, expressing his gratitude as a recipient of the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation Endowed Scholarship. Cone spoke about his strong connection to Stetson faculty, how he has dared to be significant, and how his experiences at Stetson have enhanced his leadership skills.

“[These donors] are people who say, ‘I may never get to know you, but I’m going to serve you by raising you up as a leader,’” Cone said. “The question is, for the students here today, what are we doing in response? If it’s not servant leadership, then what is it about? I challenge you to ask yourself: who is it that I can serve now, in the future, and how have I served, so we can encourage ourselves to move forward?”

Lua Hancock, Ph.D., vice provost of Campus Life and Student Success, emceed the event, with the invocation provided by Bianca Barreto ’16. The Stetson Concert Choir, led by Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Tim Peter, D.M.A., performed several selections that ended with the Alma Mater and received a standing ovation.

By Amy Gipson