Last week saw a fitting convergence of two annual highlights at American University. 

On March 21, the community gathered for the 2024 Celebration of Scholarships. Just days earlier, cherry blossoms across AU’s arboretum campus—and across the DC region—reached peak bloom. 

It was against this floral backdrop that students, donors, alumni, and university leadership came together in Constitution Hall to celebrate the impact and legacy of scholarship support at AU. The annual luncheon represents a time for scholarship recipients and donors to meet and mingle with one another. 

Scholarships are a central priority of the Change Can’t Wait campaign and AU’s commitment to meeting the full demonstrated financial need for eligible students. Over the campaign, AU has created or expanded over 155 scholarships and launched the Elevate Scholarship Initiative to support students throughout their time at AU.  

At last week’s celebration, the human stories of scholarships underscored the scale of impact. Scholarships touch many lives—common threads binding donors and recipients past and present. In the case of memorial or tribute funds, significance is magnified. 

Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls recognized the community forged by scholarships in her opening remarks. 

“More than 600 students have benefited this year alone from donor-funded scholarships thanks in large part to you—our community of donors here today,” Surls told the audience. 

AU Student Trustee Jehane Djedjro, SIS/BA ’24,  shared a reflection on scholarship support from her internship with the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) last summer. Not only did a scholarship enable her to accept the unpaid internship for the entire summer, but it reframed her perspective on a challenging travel journey to Botswana with CCA—in which a child’s bassinet was placed in front of her during a 13-hour-flight.  

“I took a moment and started to think about what led me to this point. I realized none of this would’ve even been possible if it wasn’t for the scholarship fund,” said Djedjro. “It was then that I began to take a different view of the situation. I didn’t know the mother’s situation, but I tried to extend grace and thought to her. At the end of the day, we were all just trying to get to our destinations.” 

Scholarships, Djedro continued, “are a form of grace and thought.” Donors might not be aware of every student’s situation, but still choose to “entrust us [students] with opportunities to pursue education, commit to our studies, and learn by doing.” 

Djedjro added a personal note of gratitude from her and her father, thanking Gary Wright for his “support of two generations of Djedjros that have gone through American University.” 

The chance to connect with students was equally meaningful for the donors present at the luncheon. 

For Bill Sawyer, CAS/MSTM ’76, this year marked his second time coming to the Celebration of Scholarships. He was struck by the “vibrancy and energy” of the event and AU today.  

“It’s spectacular . . . it gives me hope for the future,” said Sawyer, who attended with his wife Tay. Together, they support the Stewart/Sawyer Scholarship Fund and were able to get to know current recipient Sydney Ayllon, CAS/BS ’24, over lunch.  

People who support students are here, the students are here, the faculty is here—it’s this triangle of people who come together.

While not an AU alumna herself, Sallie Forman-Gitlitz described a sense of connection and community at the event. Her late husband Jonah Gitlitz, KSB/BS, ’55, graduated from the Kogod School of Business in 1955 and knew first-hand the importance of financial support. It is in his memory that Forman-Gitlitz established the Jonah and Sallie Gitlitz Endowed Scholarship Funds for current Kogod students in 2023. 

Speaking about the Celebration of Scholarships, Forman-Gitlitz said, “People who support students are here, the students are here, the faculty is here—it’s this triangle of people who come together.” 

Forman-Gitlitz has found gratifying takeaways within the donor experience. Just as her husband Jonah was interested in bridging business and journalism, so too is the fund’s current recipient Maryjane Williams, KSB-SOC/BA, ’24. Forman-Gitlitz described how much she values communicating with Williams. 

“I love to have a relationship with the people who are benefiting, and it’s so nice that the school has arranged that,” she said. “It’s something that I continue to want to do because I know Jonah would support that 10000% percent.” 

Williams, though unable to attend this year’s event, echoed this sentiment. 

“The support from this scholarship has transformed my journey at AU, lifting the heavy burden of financial stress, and allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my education and future career,” said Williams. 

To learn more about how to support vital scholarships for AU students, visit the Elevate Scholarship Initiative webpage.