Scholars and Donors to Meet at Annual Scholar and Donor Celebration

SALEM, MASS. – Student scholars will meet the donors responsible for their scholarship support at Salem State University’s annual Scholar and Donor Celebration.

Set for Wednesday, Nov. 13, the annual event is hosted by the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. The event will also serve as an opportunity to highlight the achievements of students, donor generosity and the funds awarded through their philanthropy, with $904,577 in Viking Scholarships alone awarded to 221 students for the 2024-25 academic year.

“This event is an opportunity for students who receive scholarships to come and be celebrated for their accomplishments, and for the donors responsible for the scholarships to meet the recipients and receive their thanks,” said Brenna Ruchala, associate director of advancement events and sponsorship at Salem State. “Because there’s so many students who benefit from donor support, we feel it’s important to combine these audiences.”

The evening will consist of a speaking program, during which attendees will hear from Vasiliki Tzortzis ’23G, a student who was able to travel to Amsterdam with the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies due to the generosity of a donor; Anne DeFelippo, a faculty member who is also a consecutive donor of 23 years; Eliaquin Gonell ’09, ’15G, a prior recipient of scholarship funds; Annalisa Di Palma, chair of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. and member of the Meet the Moment™ steering committee; and President John D. Keenan.

In her time at the university, DeFelippo has helped establish the Ellen Flowers Award for Aspiring Psychiatric Nurses. Flowers was director of nursing at Tewksbury Hospital and a faculty member in Salem State’s School of Nursing who was “respected and loved by patients, staff, students, and colleagues here at the university.”

“Why I do this is because of the ripple effect my donation will have on all graduates, particularly nursing graduates who in turn go out in the world and care for others,” DeFelippo said. “Hundreds of lives are touched by each nursing student each year. Such an immeasurable impact helps someone like me realize and ensure my ideas and teachings will live on.”