May 31, 2012
Supporting student scholarships has a major impact on the young
men and women who attend St. John’s. And if you need proof, just
ask Shu Zhen Chen ’07CPS, ’10G.
As
the Assistant to the Director in the Office of Donor
Relations, Chen prepares the initial drafts of new scholarship
agreements, reflecting precisely how each donor wants his or her
scholarship to be used. She also facilitates meetings between the
donors of endowed scholarships and the students they’re funding –
an opportunity that Chen finds immensely rewarding.
“When I first started working here, I didn’t realize how important
Donor Relations was,” she explained. “Now, however, I’m able to
hear each student’s story, many of which are heartbreaking. It
reminds you how vital these scholarships truly are, and I
especially love when the students get to meet their donors. It puts
a face to the name – the students actually see and speak with the
person who made their education possible. That’s a tremendous
experience for both the student and the donor.”
Chen personally knows the importance of a St. John’s scholarship.
After all, she received one herself, graduating with a B.S. in
Communication Arts in 2007 and an M.A. in Sociology in 2010. She
attributes the generosity of the University’s alumni and friends
largely to the Vincentian mission, something that has also
resonated strongly within her.
“Working for Donor Relations, I see the Vincentian spirit all the
time,” she said. “In fact, I’ve found that support for student
scholarships only helps to reinforce that. Many of our donors
received scholarships when they were students and are now coming
full circle by giving back themselves. That generosity is
contagious, and I think many of the students who are currently
receiving support will also one day become donors once they’ve
graduated and established their careers."
During her student days, Chen took advantage of a number of
worthwhile opportunities that helped shape her views on service,
most notably a trip to Vietnam in 2005 to work with the Daughters
of Charity.
“That was the St. John’s experience that most significantly changed
my life,” she noted. “It helped me to learn the true meaning of
community service and what it’s like to help those who need it
most. I still remember every part of that trip as if it happened
yesterday – that’s how powerful it was.”
Since then, Chen has been serving the community as often as she
can. In addition to helping out at the University’s annual Service
Day and at the Ronald McDonald House, she is currently
completing the Vincentian Mission
Certificate Program for full-time employees.
“The training sessions, reflections and community service have
taught me so much,” she said. “They’ve reinforced how strong the
St. John’s mission is and helped me realize that you should never
expect anything, but simply look to give back whenever
possible.”
And, best of all, Chen gets to experience that every day by working
with our generous alumni and friends. As of April 2012, there are
over 466 endowed scholarships, and that number continues to
grow.
“When I meet our scholarship students and hear their stories, I’m
reminded how much I love this field and how glad I am to work
here,” she explained. “And as a former scholarship recipient, I
know firsthand how much they appreciate our donors’ support.”
If you would like to endow a scholarship or support an existing
scholarship, please contact Chen at (718) 990-7498 or by e-mail at
chens1@stjohns.edu.