Giving Day

The Dividends of聽Giving聽Day

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:00:20 +0000

The Dividends of Giving Day HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Tue, 04/01/2025 - 14:00

Annual opportunity to help students of today and tomorrow will be held April 9-10

April 8, 2025

Heather Harris Michonski

Jonny Medina, 鈥�24 is the ninth of ten children, and the seventh to graduate from 51吃瓜网.

鈥淵es, I do come from a large family. You鈥檙e never really alone, and it鈥檚 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,鈥� 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鈥檛 think he would qualify for any scholarships.

鈥淏ut 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,鈥� Medina said.

His efforts paid off when he was awarded the Kathy Moore Flaherty, 鈥�91 and Shawn Flaherty Sponsor-A-Student Scholarship.

BSU鈥檚 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, 鈥�91, has been giving back to her alma mater since 1993, that鈥檚 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鈥檚 so important for her to give back and why this year she will be once again participating in BSU鈥檚 annual Giving Day, run by the Alumni and Development office. Giving Day is part of the larger ongoing BSU campaign, For Every Student, Without Exception.

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for what Bridgewater gave me early on as far as a strong education. Because of that I鈥檝e been able to have a long, successful career and have the funds available to give back to students who are just starting out,鈥� she said.

In her role as Executive Director of IT Project and Service Management at BSU, Flaherty doesn鈥檛 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.

鈥淭his 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鈥檚 rewarding knowing you had a small part in them starting the next leg of their journeys,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 was pen to paper and used to write down all of my notes in notebooks and had stacks of them, which meant I couldn鈥檛 always find my notes,鈥� 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.

鈥淚 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,鈥� 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.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know until you know,鈥� he said.

BSU鈥檚 Giving Day 2025 starts at 2p.m. on Wednesday April 9 and ends at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 10.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

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鈥檚 rewarding knowing you had a small part in them starting the next leg of their journeys.

Kathy Moore Flaherty, 鈥�91

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Giving Day

Alumni

Exceptionally Generous

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:06:56 +0000

Exceptionally Generous HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Tue, 04/09/2024 - 08:06

Alumnus and scholarship recipient promote Giving Day 鈥�24

April 9, 2024

Heather Harris Michonski

For nearly three decades, 51吃瓜网 alumnus Michael Rothberg, 鈥�90, has donated to his alma mater to help ease the financial burden for students.

Rothberg recalled his first donation, early in his career working as a financial advisor.

鈥淚 gave $25鈥nd it started me on a path to giving back to the college that gave me so much,鈥� he said.

Like he has every year since, Rothberg will be donating Wednesday during BSU鈥檚 annual Giving Day, run by the Alumni and Development office. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淔or Every Student, Without Exception.鈥�

He鈥檚 helped multiple students through the Michael S. Rothberg Scholarship offered as part of the sponsor-a-student program. This year鈥檚 recipient is aviation major Joseph Davis, 鈥�25.

In addition to regular tuition, aviation majors are financially responsible for flight training.

The support has not only alleviated the financial burden for Joseph but has also boosted his confidence.

鈥淩eceiving this scholarship has allowed me to continue to focus on aviation and helped me believe in myself, to believe in the direction I鈥檓 heading,鈥� he said.

For Rothberg, being able to help students like Joseph is why he gives.

鈥淚 started giving because I really knew the day-to-day challenges that someone like myself faced, and assumed others had too,鈥� Rothberg said.

Raised by a single mother in Plymouth, Rothberg said money was often tight and being the oldest of three boys meant a lot of responsibility was placed on him.

He knew college was going to be expensive so narrowed down his search to schools within financial reach. Bridgewater State was one of those schools.

He applied and was accepted. To make it financially viable, Rothberg commuted to and from his Plymouth home for the first two years.

He was able to secure housing his third year and worked two jobs to make ends meet. Needless to say, he was busy.

Aside from the academics and working, he also got involved on campus, and in his last year at Bridgewater served as Student Government Association president.

He worked with then-President Adrian Tinsley to help resolve issues and to strengthen connections between students and the administration.

鈥淭he experience gave me the opportunity to become empathetic, educated and informed about not just my situation, but everyone鈥檚 situation,鈥� Rothberg said.

After graduating, he embarked on a career as a financial advisor, and as he started to establish himself, that鈥檚 when he began his decades-long tradition of giving back to Bridgewater State.

鈥淚 recognize how important it is to give back to the place that helped me change and that molded me at a very young age,鈥� he said.

With so many generous donors and scholarship opportunities, Davis said all students should consider applying.

鈥淭he effort it takes is minimal, and the reward is great,鈥� he said.

To those like Rothberg who make these scholarships possible for students, Davis can鈥檛 emphasis his gratitude enough and knows one day, when he鈥檚 able, will do the same.

鈥淭ruly, thank you,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hank you for (donating) and helping start a fire that I will maintain and grow. I look forward to being able to donate back to students after I graduate.鈥�

BSU鈥檚 Giving Day 2024 starts at 2p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, and ends at 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 11.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Receiving this scholarship has allowed me to continue to focus on aviation and helped me believe in myself, to believe in the direction I鈥檓 heading.

Joseph Davis, '25

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Giving Day

Supporting Dreams

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:45:35 +0000

Supporting Dreams HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 04/10/2023 - 09:45

Annual Giving Day helps students of today and tomorrow

April 11, 2023

Heather Harris Michonski

As a child growing up in Japan, Joanne Tanaka, 鈥�24, knew one day she wanted to go to college in the United States.

With her high school graduation on the horizon, Joanne began her search for the right school.

鈥淎s I started to think more seriously about what I wanted to do, I thought about teaching,鈥� she said.

That鈥檚 when she discovered 51吃瓜网.

鈥淚 chose to move from Japan and attend BSU for its teaching program, class sizes and location. I knew I could get a higher quality of learning and, as an out-of-country student, BSU was also the most affordable,鈥� Joanne said.

Like many college students, being able to finance her education was a concern.

鈥淢y parents are older. My mom is retired and on a fixed income and my father is nearing retirement age, which means they have less discretionary money to support me,鈥� Joanne said.

Fortunately, she was able to secure a grant and received a scholarship through the university to offset some of the expenses.

鈥淩eceiving any amount of aid is appreciated. It all makes a difference. It鈥檚 money I won鈥檛 have to pay back to anyone,鈥� Joanne said. 鈥淏ecause of this I am able to continue at BSU with less financial worry. I can focus on my academics to become the best teacher I can be.鈥�

While pursuing two degrees in history and secondary education, Joanne is also a justice fellow within the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice and as a Fellow collaborates with the nonprofit organization, Raising Multicultural Kids, whose mission is to increase racial and cultural competency in predominately white schools.

Joanne herself comes from a multicultural background. She was adopted from China by an American mother and Japanese father.

鈥淚 was raised by both American and Japanese communities and BSU has provided me with a second home filled with incredibly supportive people who care and hold the same values as I do,鈥� she said.

That support was never more evident than when Joanne first enrolled at Bridgewater, which was in the fall of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic.

鈥淚 moved on campus from Japan into Scott Hall,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t times it was isolating, but as I didn鈥檛 have any standards, I didn鈥檛 know what 鈥榥ormal鈥� looked like.鈥�

She adds that the transition was eased by her professors and, eventually, her classmates.

With only a year to go before she earns her degrees, Joanne looks forward to beginning her teaching career and is grateful to have found a home at BSU.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a 鈥榙ream school鈥� when I was looking but now that I鈥檝e been here for three years, knowing what鈥檚 available to me, the community, resources, scholarships, interactions...you could say it鈥檚 become my dream school,鈥� she said.

This Giving Day, April 12-13, those looking to help students like Joanne reach their goals can make a gift to the Bridgewater Fund to support BSU students鈥� most urgent needs.

The Bridgewater Fund provides critical support for BSU students through scholarship, paid internships, and other life-changing experiences and opportunities.

鈥淭hank you for supporting students and future teachers. Thank you for seeing me,鈥� Joanne said to those who donate. 鈥淵our support is incredibly important, and I do not take it for granted. I will continue to work hard and make our world a better place and one day, I will pay it forward.鈥�

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Your support is incredibly important, and I do not take it for granted. I will continue to work hard and make our world a better place and one day, I will pay it forward.

Joanne Tanaka, '24

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Giving Day

Opening Doors

HHARRIS@bridgew.edu — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 12:55:33 +0000

Opening Doors HHARRIS@bridgew.edu Mon, 04/11/2022 - 08:55

Annual fundraiser provides students with many opportunities

April 12, 2022

Heather Harris Michonski

Today she is president and CEO of medical software giant Meditech, but Michelle O鈥機onnor, 鈥�88, remembers a time when she was struggling to manage both work and school as a first-generation student at Bridgewater State.

鈥淢y dad was an immigrant from Nova Scotia and a Boston police officer. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and both came from a time when parents didn鈥檛 save for college, so to make it affordable I worked my way through college and had to find a balance,鈥� she said.

Which is why, both personally and through her company, O鈥機onnor donates to her alma mater to ease the financial burdens that some 51吃瓜网 students face.

鈥淢ost Bridgewater students work; they can鈥檛 make ends meet without working,鈥� she said.

Christian Pierce, 鈥�22, is one such student. He transferred to BSU from a community college and is taking seven classes this semester while working 25 hours a week at an assisted living facility.

His paycheck covers food and gas, but otherwise Christian said, he finds it difficult to make ends meet.

鈥淚t has been very tough to pay rent because I am so focused on school right now,鈥� he said.

Despite his hectic schedule, Christian has managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA, securing a spot on the dean鈥檚 list while working toward his degree in health studies with a minor in health resources management.

To stay focused on school he knew he needed help, particularly financial help, so he applied through BSU for and received a Meditech scholarship.

鈥淭he scholarship has helped me tremendously. It has supported my education and my future. I am able to pay for books, food, rent, gas, bills, car insurance, care maintenance and school supplies,鈥� he said.

Providing that support is exactly why she gives, O鈥機onnor said.

鈥淏ridgewater allowed me to grow, so why not give to the college so they can make it more affordable or give a scholarship to somebody to help them see what their opportunities are?鈥� she said.

The financial assistance has certainly impacted Christian in positive ways.

鈥淏SU was there when I needed it the most,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thank (donors like O鈥機onnor) for believing in me. Some of us don鈥檛 always end up having the same playing field or opportunities as others. The scholarship was the key to my success and making the dean鈥檚 list.鈥�

On BSU鈥檚 Giving Day this year, O鈥機onnor encourages others to donate if they can. Starting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, through 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, donations can be made here.

鈥淢aking sure kids like Christian can get through is so important,鈥� O鈥機onnor said. 鈥淲e have to make sure students can achieve things and not let the dollar stand in the way.鈥�

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

Bridgewater allowed me to grow, so why not give to the college so they can make it more affordable or give a scholarship to somebody to help them see what their opportunities are.

Michelle O'Connor, '88

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Giving Day

First Gen