Alumni Generosity: Impacting Future Rockets

By Barb Fischer

“My experience at The University of Toledo was nothing short of amazing,” says Alyson Waite (HHS ’20), who worked in the Office of Legal Affairs as a paralegal intern before graduating. “I was so lucky to be afforded many opportunities that only a select number of students get to have.” Waite was voted one of the top five homecoming queen candidates in 2019. “Riding in the parade was an experience I will never forget,” she says. “I am so proud to be a Rocket.”

Alyson Waite is a paralegal

Alyson Waite will begin law school this coming fall at The University of Toledo.

The generosity of alumni impacts student lives. Scholarships awarded through the Alumni Association allow students to have more time to focus on their studies and to be able to enjoy a more robust student experience.

The Alumni Association scholarship that Waite received allowed her to focus on her studies and spend less time working. “I was able to focus on preparing for my future and study for the LSAT. Without this money, I would not have been able to spend as much time on my law school application.”

Waite also was engaged in several student organizations including being a Presidential Ambassador and member of Blue Key Honor Society. “These roles allowed me to serve a number of women on campus,” says Waite. As a facilitator for Levis Leadership, Waite mentored a group of 40 second-year students.

Waite is thankful for the generous contributions of UToledo donors who support student scholarships, including her Alumni Association scholarship. “I would not be where I am today without their assistance,” she says.

Another scholarship awardee, Diala Abou-Dahech, said that receiving the Alumni Association scholarship helped her pay for undergraduate

Diala Abou-Dahech

Diala Abou-Dahech will graduate in August and then begin graduate school at UToledo in occupational therapy.

tuition and save for graduate school. “If I did not receive this scholarship, I would have had to get another job to help me pay for tuition.” Instead, she says, “I was able to focus on my studies, obtain good grades, volunteer more and not have to worry about how to pay for my education.”

“I met great people, gained tons of experience, and I believe I am prepared to go out into the world and make a difference,” says Abou-Dahech. “It wasn’t even a question as to where I would go to get my education. We have a family of Rockets,” says Abou-Dahech, whose father and two older sisters graduated from UToledo.

Abou-Dahech says she is thankful for the scholarships she received during her undergraduate years and for those who contribute to them. “I truly believe part of my success was due to the help of alumni and donors. I am forever grateful.”

Alumni members through their donations can be proud of the legacy they are setting up for future Rockets through Alumni Association scholarships.