1. ImpactReport
EMU senior Kathleen Welsh is
no stranger to hard work: she’s
worked full-time throughout her
college career.“I’ve managed an
aquatics team, been a nanny,
a house-sitter, an aftercare
worker, and a teacher aide,”said
Welsh.“Anything to make a few
dollars to pay for school!”
At a time when many struggle
to find the funds to attend
college and graduates are
drowning in debt, scholarships
are crucial for student
retention.“Coming up with
$5,000 every three months
is extremely difficult,”said
Welsh, a recipient of the Jack
and Joanne Stapleton and
the Helen and Tarik Daoud
Endowed Scholarships.
“Scholarships go a long way
toward relieving that anxiety.”
Jack Stapleton and his
wife, Joanne, held multiple
degrees from EMU and
pursued successful careers as
educators. Both Stapletons
passed away in 1993; Jack’s
brother James established
the scholarship in 1995. The
award is granted to graduates
of the Livonia or Southfield
school systems studying
teacher education at EMU.
Tarik Daoud emigrated from
Iraq in 1956. He married
Helen in 1961 and worked
for Al Long Ford, purchasing
the dealership in 1971. The
Daouds became well-known
philanthropists focused on
education. Their scholarship
supports Wayne County
residents pursuing elementary
education. Tarik Daoud passed
away in May 2015.
“Without the generosity of my
donors, I would honestly be
struggling to pay for school,”
Welsh said.“I cannot thank them
enough.”She already has plans
to pay it forward:“I’m looking
forward to starting my career
and putting the money I earn
back into my students and the
community instead of student
loan debt.”
“I could not be more thankful.”
Kathleen Welsh embodies the dedication to education valued by her scholarship donors
MAJOR: Early Childhood
and Elementary Education
GOALS: Lead preschool;
incorporate Eastern
philosophies into my work;
influence democratic teaching
and the immersion of the
whole child in learning.
WHY SHE CHOSE EMU:
I’m blown away by the
dedication of my professors.
Dr. Dichtelmiller, Dr. Paciorek,
and Dr. Beaubien push
students because they’re
invested in our success. They
make time for one-on-one
attention. I am so thankful
to be taught by these
outstanding professionals.
about kathleen welsh
E a s t e r n M i c h i g a n U n i v e r s i t y F o u n d a t i o n S u m m e r 2 015
Like our student body, the array of scholarships available at EMU is diverse. They cover every college, every discipline, and
were established by donors from differing backgrounds. The commonality is that they provide often-crucial support to
recipients. Scholarships help ease the growing financial burdens of college while motivating students to excel in their studies
and stay on track to graduate. These scholarships exist because you established and contribute to them. This report provides
a small snapshot of the impact of your continued support. You ARE the difference. Thank you for your generosity.
- The EMU Foundation

2. As years of cuts threaten to
put college financially out
of reach, your generosity
makes a critical difference
to EMU students.
SOURCE: CBPP Calculations using data from Illinois State University’s annual Grapevine Report and the State Higher
Education Executive Officers Association. Tuition data from College Board, “Trends in College Pricing: in 2014”.
EMU-specific data from EMU Financial Aid Office and the 2014 EMU Data Book.
28%arefirst-generation college students
The 2015 Undergraduate Symposium, showcasing
year-long research and creative projects,
featured 500 student participants
supported by 200 faculty members
Average college
tuition in
Michigan is up
22.7%
since 2008
EMU enrolled
18,341
undergraduate
students
81%receive
financial
aid
$7,000+average need-
based aid package
per student
State funding
went down
23.1%
during this
period
37% awarded scholarships
almost
60%is need-
based
of Undergraduate
Symposium participants are
scholarship recipients
25%MORE
THAN
EMU Scholarship Impact

3. Homelessness
Over 80% of students from
foster care aspire to go to
college - but only 3% obtain
a bachelor’s degree by age
25. Many have experienced
housing instability and lack
a support system. EMU’s
MAGIC (Mentorship, Access
and Guidance in College)
program and accompanying
scholarship fund aim to help
these students succeed.
MAGIC is a federally-funded
program that helps foster care
alumni obtain independent
living skills and successfully
transition into adulthood.
The MAGIC Scholarship
Fund assists with the cost
of college tuition.
“Anyone pursuing a degree
knows how difficult it is to
finance an education,”said
Joi Rencher, an independent
living skills coach/coordinator
for MAGIC.“It’s exponentially
harder for someone without a
family or support system to call
on for help. We try to alleviate
some of the hardships that
might otherwise cause our
students to give up on their
education.”
“MAGIC helps me on so many
levels,”said Hope Pierson, a
senior majoring in social work.
“It provides support, introduces
me to resources on campus,
assists financially, and teaches
me how to self-advocate.”
Desi Merritt, a sophomore
double-majoring in biology
and theatre, agrees:“MAGIC
has had an enormous impact
on my success at EMU. Without
Joi and the mentors, I wouldn’t
be able to stay sane, and the
scholarships have kept me in
school.”
“MAGIC has created a
community of support and
encouragement at EMU,”said
Rencher.“We’ve witnessed
successes like graduation,
applying to graduate school,
and gaining a sense of
belonging—things many of our
students never thought they’d
have. This scholarship fund is
critical for the continuation of
our work.”
Find out more at www.emich.edu/magic
MAGIC makes an Impact
They can use a little magic…
48%
foster care
alumni
80%
general
population
Find employment*
Mean annual income*
$13,989
$32,312
foster care alumni
general population
Considering these statistics, help from
the MAGIC Program and Scholarship Fund
can seem truly magical to students coming
from the foster care system.
Higher education
Post-traumatic stress**
Post-traumaticstressratesamongfostercarealumni
areHIGHERthanamongwarveterans.
% who are homeless for
one day or more after
aging out of foster care
* Courtney et al, 2011
** Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative, 2007
*** Day et al, 2011
22%
Drop out of college before completing a degree***
33%foster care alumni
18%general population
Complete bachelor’s degree by age 25
3%foster care alumni
24%general population
vs
vs
TOP MAGIC participant Desare“Desi”Merritt
BOTTOM The EMU MAGIC team
(left to right): Megan DeVoe, Courtney Smith,
Brittany Bartkowiak, Joi Rencher

4. In 2009, 18-year old Ryan
Clark’s life was cut tragically
short by a weather-related
automobile accident. His family
was devastated, yet determined
to turn the tragedy into
something positive.
“We always taught our kids
that there’s one thing no one
can ever take away from you:
an education,” said Rory, Ryan’s
father, a graduate of EMU’s
construction management
program. The family founded
the Ryan’s Run Foundation,
establishing scholarships at
EMU and Ferris State University
(where Ryan was a student).
Scholarship funds are bolstered
by the annual Ryan’s Run for
Education, a 5K trail race held
in Washington Township. “Ryan
ran cross-country and track all
through high school, so having
a run in his honor just made
sense,” said Rory.
Running for Ryan
EMU alum establishes scholarship in memory of his son
Ryan Clark
On June 11, over 250 EMU students, alumni, and donors
received exclusive evening access to the Detroit Institute
of Arts’ Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit exhibit.
The event, featuring guided tours by DIA staff, a cocktail
reception, and a special behind-the-scenes look at the
DIA paper conservation lab, raised funds for the Richard
Rubenfeld Endowed Scholarship in Art History.
TRUEMU at the DIA raises funds
for art history scholarships
The Clarks
elected to
support
construction-
related programs
because of Rory’s
background and Ryan’s choice to
study HVAC. “We want to ensure
that deserving students get the
support they need to complete
their construction education,”
said Rory. “As a graduate, I
believe that EMU’s construction
management program was well-
suited for this funding.”
The 2015 Ryan’s Run for Education
was held June 20. For more
information on the 2016 run and
the Ryan Matthew Clark Endowed
Construction Scholarship at EMU,
visit www.ryansrun5k.org.
The EMU Foundation Impact
Report is published by:
The EMU Foundation
344 McKenny Hall
850 West Cross Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734-484-1322
www.emufoundation.org