The 2025 SC&I Scholarship Luncheon, held on Sunday, April 27 at the Rutgers Club, enabled SC&I undergraduate and graduate scholarship recipients to meet their scholarship donors in person, many for the first time, and provided a special opportunity for the students to express their gratitude to the donors for their financial support.

“It was a lovely event that reaffirmed the value of the educational work we do and the power of donations to support students,” said SC&I Interim Dean Dafna Lemish, who delivered the opening remarks.

Highlights of the event, also attended by SC&I faculty and staff, included a Q&A with a panel of four students, moderated by Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Journalism and Media Studies Steven Miller, and remarks by Marty Siederer, President of the SC&I Alumni Association.   

During the panel, the students described their academic journeys at Rutgers SC&I and explained the many ways their scholarships enabled them to reach their educational goals.

"Winning the Shaun & Patricia Mickus Endowed Scholarship has not only alleviated my family of a significant financial burden but also helped me reinforce my confidence in my own potential. So, I am deeply grateful to Shaun and Patricia Mickus for their generosity and for supporting students like me,” said Michelle Bae COM’25, who is specializing in Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations and is part of Lambda Pi Eta (the Communication Honors Society).

Lynell James MCM’26, who graduated from Rutgers in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, said, “The SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship eased the financial pressure of grad school, letting me focus on my MCM coursework and my full-time role at Rutgers Global–Study Abroad. As a first-generation Caribbean immigrant whose path to college depended on grants and loans, I know how transformative this support can be. Your investment fuels the access initiatives I’m building so first-gen and low-income Rutgers students can pursue global education—thank you!”

Nicole Avanzato MI’25 said, “The support from the Schoen Fellowship has allowed me to grow as a reflective, informed, and equity-minded school librarian who is ready to meet the diverse needs of today’s students.”

Eddie Kalegi JMS’25 said, "With this support that I'm tremendously grateful for, I was able to be financially at ease and make the most of my time at Rutgers University to further my career aspirations in the sports media industry."

As the luncheon was coming to a close, SC&I Assistant Dean for Development Blain Bradley provided closing remarks.

Learn more about the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photos: John O’Boyle

Our thank-you video provides a glimpse into the transformative power of the support provided by our scholarship donors to our students. Credit: Ashley Medrano