A Passion for Lawrence — Life Insurance Beneficiary

J.R. Vanko '13

I walked through the doors of Lawrence University not knowing what would become of my college experience or how my family would be able to afford it. What I did know was that I had a passion to further my education and a love for Lawrence that words could not describe. I came to Lawrence from a one-income family, which meant that paying tuition was a challenge. Named scholarships and support from The Lawrence Fund made my Lawrence education possible.

I knew I wanted to do something to give back, so that one day I could have an impact on the lives of future Lawrentians. That is when I named Lawrence as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. In doing so I became the youngest member of the Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle.

As an intern in the Offices of Alumni and Constituency Engagement and Development I strove to find ways to raise awareness about philanthropy among my fellow students. This was the beginning of the new and improved Lawrence Fund Student Ambassadors Program.

The Ambassadors are student leaders who have a passion for Lawrence and a desire to sustain its future. Our Ambassadors strive to educate our student body on the importance of philanthropic giving and the impact that it has on their educational experiences. Those same students serve as Ambassadors of The Lawrence Fund, in order to inspire and educate their peers while receiving invaluable professional skills. In addition to making presentations to alumni and student groups, Ambassadors are having etiquette dinners and "mocktail" parties and partnering with the career services to ensure that they develop professional skills to represent Lawrence well. They have a bright future, and will surely leave a positive mark on Lawrence University.