This is one way to do that, to make a difference. You get to see the students you help graduate. They are so proud when they walk across the stage at commencement. It is really an uplifting day and it’s rewarding knowing you had a small part in them starting the next leg of their journeys.
Jonny Medina, ’24 is the ninth of ten children, and the seventh to graduate from 51Թ.
“Yes, I do come from a large family. You’re never really alone, and it’s been nothing short of a blessing. People always want to feel that they have someone in their life they can trust, and I have many,” Medina said.
Like his siblings before him, to pay for school he worked while taking classes. He knew financial support was available at BSU but didn’t think he would qualify for any scholarships.
“But I knew I needed all the help I could get. So, I took the time to research and go through the list of scholarships available (at BSU) and I applied,” Medina said.
His efforts paid off when he was awarded the Kathy Moore Flaherty, ’91 and Shawn Flaherty Sponsor-A-Student Scholarship.
’s Sponsor-A-Student scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 or more. Donors can name the scholarship after themselves, or someone else of their choosing.
Kathy Moore Flaherty, ’91, has been giving back to her alma mater since 1993, that’s when she gave her first-ever donation of $25. She has donated every year since to help students in need. A portion of her donations have gone towards the Sponsor-A-Student program which she started participating in back in 2012.
Flaherty explains why it’s so important for her to give back and why this year she will be once again participating in ’s annual , run by the Alumni and Development office. Giving Day is part of the larger ongoing BSU campaign, For Every Student, Without Exception.
“I’m thankful for what Bridgewater gave me early on as far as a strong education. Because of that I’ve been able to have a long, successful career and have the funds available to give back to students who are just starting out,” she said.
In her role as Executive Director of IT Project and Service Management at BSU, Flaherty doesn’t always get to interact directly with students; her role is more behind-the-scenes. But she sees her philanthropy as a way to still have an impact.
“This is one way to do that, to make a difference. You get to see the students you help graduate. They are so proud when they walk across the stage at commencement. It is really an uplifting day and it’s rewarding knowing you had a small part in them starting the next leg of their journeys,” Flaherty said.
For Medina, that support helped him earn a degree in finance and accounting. Specifically, he was able to purchase an iPad to help him be better organized.
“I was pen to paper and used to write down all of my notes in notebooks and had stacks of them, which meant I couldn’t always find my notes,” Medina said.
The scholarship allowed him to free up money for the iPad, which led him to take more efficient notes and stay on track in his classes.
Since graduating, Medina has secured a job working as a client service associate for a small financial firm in South Easton.
He is grateful to Flaherty and BSU for helping him along the way. Not only did he get financial support, but by going through the application process, he learned more about himself.
“I had to really think about the actual traits I possess, that are special to me. It was a good lesson, and something you have to learn to do when you build your resume, or apply for jobs,” Medina said.
He encourages others who might be struggling financially to do their research and apply for one of the many scholarship opportunities the school offers.
“You don’t know until you know,” he said.
’s starts at 2p.m. on Wednesday April 9 and ends at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 10.
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