Women for OSU names student Philanthropists of the Year
Friday, May 6, 2011
Four Oklahoma State University students who spend countless hours helping others were named Student Philanthropists of the Year at the sold-out Women for OSU Symposium on April 21. The event also featured a keynote speech by journalist and author Lisa Ling, a guest appearance by Gov. Mary Fallin and the naming of the Philanthropist of the Year among the highlights.
The student honorees, juniors who were each awarded $2,000 scholarships by Women for OSU, are Haley Baumgardner from Carrier, Qualla Parman from Warner, Alyssa Peterson from Edmond and Carly Schnaithman from Garber.
Baumgardner is a leader in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, where she majors in agribusiness. She is active in Make a Difference Day Cleanup, the Oklahoma City Food Bank, the Tulsa State Fair and Enid Relay for Life. She has also attended Oklahoma FFA Alumni Leadership Camp. She says this honor was an unexpected recognition of her passion for philanthropy.
“I just really like to give back to the community,” Baumgardner said. “Not only is the community getting something but I’m getting at least as much out of it in return. Seeing the volume of philanthropy that some of these nominees do, it’s humbling to be among them. It’s such an honor to be recognized as that type of person.”
As a biosystems engineering major, Parman is involved with several engineering organizations including OSU Engineers Without Borders and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. She serves on the Student Alumni Board and also assists with sustainability projects on campus like Tailgate Recycling. She says the variety of her community service is indicative of her personality.
“I have a really broad interest in things in my life,” Parman said. “I love to try new things and have new experiences. I’m always up for doing something I’ve never done before. You never know when you find that one thing that you really love and it turns into something more than just that thing you tried once.”
Peterson, a biological sciences major, has spent more than three years establishing and maintaining a project in South Africa known as Thanda. Thanda, which means “love” in Zulu, provides education, meals and activities for South African orphans and families of AIDS victims. Peterson and her four colleagues are in constant need of funding, as maintaining the projects costs $9,000 per month. To increase its sustainability, they have established a business model that generates revenue for the organization. South African women create and sell jewelry in the United States and Europe, with about 30 percent of the sales going back to the women – which is seven times more than they make selling locally – and about 60 percent going to Thanda.
Peterson said she was interested in Thanda after a visit to South Africa.
“I can look at my childhood and see every opportunity I’ve been handed,” Peterson said. “I’ve never had to worry about what I’m going to eat the next day or if there’s a roof over my head. These are issues that cross these kids’ minds on a daily basis. None of us should stop working toward that equality to where everyone has a fair chance of a brighter future. They just need someone to help them along the way.”
Schnaithman studies agribusiness and has leadership experience in many organizations along with vast and varied community service. She helps the Make-A-Wish Foundation, youth softball, fraternity and sorority philanthropy events, the Humane Society, Head Start and the Oklahoma Blood Institute. She has also assisted the FFA, Orange Peel, Camp Cowboy and the Oklahoma Youth Expo.
“A lot of the things I do on campus are a lot of fun for me personally, but it also benefits other students,” Schnaithman said. “I think the opportunity to give back to the community is probably the most fulfilling thing for me. I know there are so many people who are just as deserving if not more deserving than me. This is such an honor.”
Also at the Symposium was the announcement of Linda Shackelford, co-owner of TLC Florist & Greenhouses, as Philanthropist of the Year. Linda supports a variety of causes, including public education, OSU and FFA.
The event concluded with the announcement of next year’s Symposium, which will be April 12, 2012, and feature Jennifer Buffett as the keynote speaker. Buffett is co-chair and president of the NoVo Foundation, a philanthropic organization working to create a more just and balanced world based on cooperation and partnership, primarily through the empowerment of girls and women.
Women for Oklahoma State University is a broad and diverse group of women, both alumnae and friends, who share a passion for inspiring leadership through their financial support to OSU. Sponsored by the Oklahoma State University Foundation, Women for OSU is led by a working council of 40 women with an established giving history to the University. These women serve throughout the year on focused teams aimed at connecting, reconnecting and continuously engaging alumni and friends of OSU to inspire leadership through philanthropy.