The annual Troy University Scholarship Brunch will be held virtually on March 27 to allow scholarship recipients to send their thanks to those who have donated to their education.

This year’s brunch is held for the donors and recipients of the 2020 academic year’s scholarships, where there were 1,068 foundation scholarships awarded, totaling over $941,000.

Meredith Welch, the Director of Annual Giving and Special Projects at Troy University, said it’s important for scholarship donors to get to meet and interact with the students they are helping.

“(A scholarship) just allows the students to come and have an experience where they can focus on their academics and not have to worry about how they’re going to pay for their tuition or worry about student loan debt,” she said.

Students who received specific foundation scholarships through the university write thank-you cards to the donors when they receive the scholarship initially, but Welch said she thinks it’s important for donors to get to put a face with a name and see the impact that money makes on the students.

For the brunch, recipients were given the opportunity to record a thank-you message to the people who contributed to their scholarship, which will be presented via pre-recorded stream at the brunch.

Typically, recipients would be able to thank them face-to-face, but due to Covid-19 safety concerns, the University opted to virtually format the event. The event will be hosted by Gen. Walter Givhan, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development, and will include a special announcement from Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., as well as a message from a donor on why she chooses to give.

The event will be streamed through troy.edu/live as well as the Troy University Facebook page starting at 10 am. Welch emphasized that the university wants everyone to watch the stream so that they can see the importance of scholarships and open the door to anyone called to donate.