A Thankful Online MBA Alum Gives Back
10/05/2011
It isn’t unusual for an alumnus to give a gift to the college or university he or she graduated from. Lots of people do it. Far fewer online students, however, give back to their institutions. That makes me the exception that proves the rule.
A retired businessman from Arizona, I gave a seven-figure gift to my alma mater, Saint Leo University, where I attended as an online student and earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. Now folks want to know how an online program could have forged such a deep connection with the university. Half-jokingly, I tell them to ask Saint Leo. More seriously, I tell them I gave the money because I believe in the value of an education, either traditional or online, and I give the credit to Saint Leo for providing a world-class education and attracting me as a student.
Several years ago, through an online search engine, I found Saint Leo University among all the online college clutter. What sold me on Saint Leo was that it was a “real” institution, one with a physical campus and not just a cyberspace address or office space off the highway. The institution had a long history in central Florida, and the campus was bustling with Greek life and athletic events. It even has a commencement on campus for online graduates. I was able to make a physical connection with the institution, meet my professors, and see that Saint Leo was more than just images on a computer screen. It was a real university with real people. And in making those connections, I felt an overwhelming sense of duty to give back to my alma mater.
ONLINE FULFILLMENT
Secondly, my education wasn’t just an afterthought. Online learning as it’s practiced at Saint Leo involves a lot of writing and research. The work is demanding and the rewards fulfilling. When I graduated with my MBA in 2007, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Saint Leo put me through the paces, and I came out a more educated person as a result.
Finally, I gave the gift to Saint Leo because I can recognize its role in educating those who are important for America’s future. Some folks choose not to go or are unable to attend college out of high school. I, for example, served in the Air Force out of high school. Growing up in a Detroit tenement, I had no money to pay for college. Forty-plus years later, however, I still wanted to go back, and Saint Leo gave me that option.
With online classes, I had the flexibility to continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of my business and take classes. For three and a half years I came to work early and left early pursuing my bachelor’s degree. It was my mission and something I wanted to accomplish for myself and my family. I wanted my grandkids to be able to look at me and say, “If Granddad can do it at 65, I can do it.” They’d have no excuses.
TICKET FOR THE YOUNG
While I had always wanted to return to school and earn a college degree, my grandchildren helped to fuel those efforts. I didn’t want them thinking they could follow in my footsteps. I had developed a successful wholesale business with only a high school degree. When I graduated from high school, that’s all that was needed to find work. That’s not the case today. A bachelor’s degree is the ticket for young people to find work and lead successful and productive lives. It is the most important investment that students will make in their future.
This week my alma mater unveiled a new $12 million building that will be the home of Saint Leo’s School of Business. The building is state-of-the-art and has all the bells and whistles that any educator could want. In my remarks at the celebration, I told folks not to thank me, but to thank God for the flock of angels he sent to guide me through life.
While I am glad my gift could help make this project possible, I am elated that Saint Leo and other schools like it will continue to cater to students’ needs, especially those of nontraditional students.
By Don Tapia
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