Indiana University East students welcomed community supporters to campus in appreciation of their contributions toward scholarships, internships, leadership experiences and community service opportunities. Guests were invited to the Spirit of Philanthropy Luncheon held October 11 in the lobby of Whitewater Hall on campus.

Students celebrate Spirit of Philanthropy during the annual luncheon on October 11.

The student-led event featured speakers for the Showcase of Student Success. Students shared their experiences and accomplishments during the luncheon. This year’s student speakers included:

Merissa Ross is from Centerville, Indiana, and is a senior majoring in human life science with minors in chemistry and exercise science.  She is a member of the IU Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, historian for Tri-Beta, vice president of the Pre-Professional Club, president of the Student Government Association (SGA), student worker with the Office of Athletics, a teacher’s assistant in anatomy, and she is a laboratory technician for microbiology, physiology and anatomy. Ross spoke about her experience as a transfer student, and how scholarships have provided her opportunities as a student to help prepare her for her future. She plans to one day be a physical therapist.

Thais Mendez is from Vina del Mar, Chile, and is a senior business administration major with a concentration in finance. Mendez shared about her experience as a transfer student and as a member of the IU East women’s tennis team. In 2019, she was the River States Conference Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honoree, among other honors. She is the first recipient of the Venus Williams Scholarship.

Rebekah Williams is from Fountain City, Indiana, and is a senior elementary education major with a minor in English Language Learners. She is a tutor with the IU East Office of Service-Learning and volunteers at Open Arms. She is a 2019 Summer Research Scholar and her project is to explore the best practices for grammar education for English Language Learners. She is also the student coordinator for the Family R.E.A.D. program. Williams shared about how an experience at the Dream Center in downtown Los Angeles inspired her to earn her associate degree in Organizational Leadership from IPFW in Fort Wayne before transferring to IU East to pursue her passion and to become an elementary teacher. After she graduates, she plans to complete a student teaching experience abroad in Costa Rica.

Tanner Puterbaugh is from Richmond, Indiana, and is a senior humanities major with a concentration in music. He performed Mozart Concerto No. 3 Movement 2 in E-flat for French Horn. Jenny Williams accompanied him on the piano.

Evelie LaCroix is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a nursing major. LaCroix talked about overcoming the challenges of being a teen mother, the loss of her partner at 31, and deciding how to help people professionally. She is a non-traditional student with an adult son in the U.S. Air Force and twin daughters in high school. She will one day be a nurse to nurture and take care of others, fulfilling her dream.

Cassidy Whitehead is from Richmond, Indiana, and is a senior double majoring in biochemistry and psychology. She is a volunteer with the Center for Service-Learning, a tutor with the Math Counts! and Indiana Kids programs, and president of Circle K Club. She also tutors her peers in organic chemistry and physics through the Math and Science Resource Center, and has presented research with faculty member Mengie Parker on the benefits of civic engagement on college campuses. She has visited the Body Farm in Knoxville for research and traveled to the Mid-East Honors Association Conference with the Honors Program to present her research in psychology. This year, Whitehead completed a President’s Summer Research Fellowship in Bloomington. The fellowship provided an opportunity for Whitehead to work with Sharlene Newman in the Neurocognitive Imaging lab in Bloomington, utilizing an fMRI machine and parametric mapping to analyze the activation of the mesolimbic pathway in cannabis users.

Dumisani (Dumi) Kumwenda is from Blantyre, Malawi, and is a senior business administration major with a concentration in information systems. He is a member of the men’s soccer team, and he has been a part of the team since it started in 2017. He shared about his life growing up in Blantyre. He shared one of his biggest fears about moving here is that he would not fit in and he would struggle to adapt to American culture. He found the campus to be welcoming and provides a family atmosphere. Kumwenda volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club, Hibberd Middle School and for the annual Palette to Palate event. He has attended the Economic Club of Indianapolis with the Economics Club at IU East. He is a member of Delta Mu Delta, and he was recently appointed as the honor society’s Twitter handler for the Great Lakes region. He also works with the Office of Food Services in The Den.