Ninety-nine of Waynesburg University’s supporters will be on campus April 1 for the President’s Donor and Scholarship Recognition Dinner that will take place in Alumni Hall.

For the Waynesburg administration, it’s a way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who have heavily invested in the university, according to Heidi Szuminksy, vice president for Institutional Advancement and University Relations.

“The purpose is to bring together our biggest supporters of the university for the purpose of thanking them and helping them to see how their support makes an impact here at Waynesburg,” said Szuminsky. “The people who are invited are our major donors, our major volunteers, our planned giving donors and those who provide scholarship resources.”

The university defines ‘major donors’ as people who give $20,000 or more to Waynesburg in a given year, and Szuminsky asserted that their graciousness is what allows the school to function, especially because student tuition only covers a portion of the cost to successfully run the school.

“What a lot of people don’t understand…but what students pay in tuition only covers about 75 percent of what it actually costs to educate them here,” said Szuminsky. “The rest of that is made up from the financial support from individuals, foundations and corporations, and anyone who gives donations to the university.”

Szuminsky will be the MC for the event, and President Doug Lee will be the dinner’s keynote speaker. Also set to speak will be Waynesburg senior Amy Hawley, who will discuss the importance of scholarship assistance in higher education.

“I was asked to share my experience at Waynesburg University and how the donors have really impacted my personal journey, here,” said Hawley. “I have received scholarships through a donor and through the criminal justice program.”

Two people will be recognized at the dinner as winners the Golden Key Award, which is presented to someone, whether it is an alumnus or friend of the university, who is dedicated to a lifetime of significant leadership. Additionally, the Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to an alumnus who shows devotion to the university’s mission of faith, learning and service.

The alumni counsel has the final say in who wins these annual awards as the nominees are presented to the counsel, and then the members vote.

According to Event Planner Mary Fox, who oversaw the logistics of this event over the course of nine months, there are a couple of changes to the donor dinner this year as opposed to years previous, and one of them is the date. In years past, the donor dinner was strategically placed around or on Charter Day, but this year, the dinner comes more than a full week later.

Also new this year, there will be a ‘Waynesburg Experience’ tour guided by Lee to learn about faith on campus, see the nursing simulation lab and find out about the service opportunities that the university has to offer.

“It truly is very important in the life of the university,” said Szuminsky of the entire event. “It’s an opportunity for us, as a university, to say ‘thank you.’ It’s so important because we are incredibly grateful for these people.”