Why We Appreciate our Donors

We are incredibly grateful for all that our donors do for St. John’s University. But don’t just take our word for it – read about these exceptional students and learn how the financial support of alumni and friends helped them achieve their goals.

Anjanie Kashidas ’12C, ’13G
Anjanie Kashidas ’12C, ’13G is living her dream, and she owes it all to her St. John’s scholarship.

“I’m the first person in my family who will graduate college,” she explained. “We’re not made of money, so every little bit helps. The scholarship I received really means a lot because it’s what allowed me to come to this beautiful campus and pursue what I’m passionate about.”

This ambitious young woman is studying Journalism and International Relations with the hopes of one day working overseas for the government. With a St. John’s education, she’s confident that she can turn her dream into reality.

“Becoming a Foreign Service Officer is my dream,” she said. “Basically, that would en tail being a diplomat – someone who travels to different countries and represents the United States. Even working in Washington, DC, just being involved with the government in any capacity, would be fantastic.”

St. John’s is helping Kashidas reach her goals, and she’s incredibly thankful for the contributions from the alumni and friends who have made it possible.

“College is not a rite,” she said. “I’m so thankful to our donors, because I know that without them I wouldn’t have been able to come here. So their contributions really mean a lot.”  

Christopher Blount ’13CPS
Christopher Blount ’13CPS is on the road to success, but it hasn’t been an easy journey.

This exceptional young man originally hoped to play college basketball, but an unfortunate knee injury turned his focus back to academics.

“While playing basketball, I broke my knee in nine places,” he recalled. “After going through surgery, I knew that my hopes of playing at the collegiate level were over. Luckily, my mom always told me to keep my grades up. I have a passion for academics, and St. John’s was my top choice.”

Thanks to his scholarship, Blount has been able to focus on his classes and his extracurricular activities. He’s studying Pre-Law and serves as the Executive Vice President of Haraya, the Pan-African student organization. Additionally, he is a member of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, which allows undergraduates to gain additional legal experience through advanced law classes and internships.

“I’m definitely a busy guy, and I wouldn’t be able to do it all without my scholarship,” Blount said. “I’m excited about studying law, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am to the donors who have made that possible.”