By Caitlin Hofen, Feature Editor
The Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association hosted its annual Donor Dinner Thursday evening.
The private dinner was attended by administration, guests and individuals who donated to Northwestern in some capacity within the past 18 months. More than 150 people attended and listened to student and guest speakers.
Allen “Skeeter” Bird, the foundation CEO, opened the evening with remarks about the benefits of lifelong learning. He said that, while he was a student at Northwestern in the ’80s, a professor challenged him and his classmates to form their own opinions rather than adopting those of their parents. Bird spoke to this personal growth as an opportunity that continues to be offered to students at Northwestern today.
“When you, as a donor, make an investment in the students, you help create a life of learning and growth for which we will never see the full impact,” Bird said.
The Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors sat among the crowd of guests and donors, visiting and listening to stories from alums and long-time supporters of Northwestern. The dinner was prepared by Chartwells Catering and served by the 2022 President’s Leadership Class.
The student speaker was Greysan Ioerger-Henson, a freshman nursing major. Ioerger-Henson spoke about his journey to attend Northwestern and the impact scholarships have had on his ability to afford college. He thanked the donors for their contribution in helping him pay for his education and recognized the pride he has in being a Ranger.
“It truly felt great to be able to thank the donors who made it possible for me to be here,” Ioerger-Henson said. “When I was asked to speak and I realized who I would be speaking to and the number of people, I was ecstatic.”
The guest speaker of the evening was Sandi Patty, the most awarded female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history. She has won five Grammy awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three platinum records and five gold records.
Patty opened her address by describing her family and how higher education impacted their lives. An alumna of Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, Patty emphasized the importance of donating to higher education and the effect it has on students who need financial support.
Patty then told the story of finding her calling in music. She described herself as a quiet child who was scared to speak out loud.
“One day, the principal came over intercom and asked all the teachers if they knew of any student who could sing the National Anthem for the next PTA meeting,” Patty said during her speech. “My hand shot into the air, because somehow singing felt so much easier for me than speaking. I could tell you what I thought in a song.”
She spoke about how she overcame adversity in the entertainment industry, the impact of positive thoughts and the need for kindness in the world. She closed by singing “How We Love.”
“The atmosphere of celebration and gratitude experienced at our annual Donor Dinner is always energizing,” Bird said. “We were blessed with both a wonderful student speaker and a phenomenal guest speaker. Bringing our students together with our donors for multiple conversations made for a perfect evening.”