The Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences Celebrates Scholarship Recipients and Their Donors

KENNESAW, Ga. (Mar 10, 2023) — RCHSS recently hosted a reception to celebrate scholarship recipients and the generous donors who support them. The event was an opportunity for recipients to meet donors face to face, thank them for their support, and share stories of the impact scholarships have had to advance the pursuit of their degrees. Held in the KSU Student Center February 15th, the community of scholars was represented by four scholarship awardees who gave inspirational speeches at the event. 

Donors attending included the Sukumar family who this year established the Dr. Simon Sukumar Memorial Scholarship to support students majoring in political science.  Jose Lugo, a self-described “non-traditional student” who at 35 has returned to college to finish his degree while holding down a full-time job, is the first-ever recipient of this scholarship. During his speech Lugo, a junior who carefully manages his budget to keep his academic schedule on track said he can relax knowing he “can apply the scholarship to next semester.” He went on to say this scholarship award and earning his degree will make his family proud, and that he’d like to go to graduate school and complete a Double Owl degree at KSU. Lugo plans to work and serve in communities like the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington, D.C. where he grew up.   

Other attendees included Lindy Radow, who established the Lindy Radow Scholarship, and her scholarship recipient Chasidy Harris. Harris emphasized that without the scholarship, it would have taken her longer to complete her degree and she would not have been able to save the funds that enabled her to study abroad. When asked what she would say to Lindy Radow, Harris responded, “Thank you for supporting our college and seeing the benefit of the humanities programs and how much we can bring to society.” Harris is a senior, a Sociology major, and was also awarded the Osher Re-entry Scholarship. 

Scholarship recipient Stacy Adams, who received three scholarships, including the English Education Outstanding Future Teacher of Color Award, the Excellence in English Education Scholarship award, and the GAP Scholarship, began her pursuit of a degree in a field that did not ignite her passion. After two years of study, she put her education hold. Adams was “called to teaching” and decided to follow that call and return to college after a two-year hiatus. Adams says the feeling of being awarded the scholarships was “indescribable.” She went on to say that she and her husband “just purchased a home and so I am learning the responsibilities of paying a mortgage and all the other things that are still on my plate, and so this was just one less thing that was weighing me down and the relief was amazing.” Adams plans to stay in the classroom for as long as possible, and she holds long-term ambitions to work her way into an education policy-making level so she can make positive change in education field. 

Connor Welch, a senior who received the Scott E. Duffy Endowed Scholarship, the Center of Young Adult Addiction and Recovery Scholarship Board scholarship, the Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery Annual General Scholarship, and the Education Abroad Scholarship applied to KSU, “on a whim.” Welch is a double major in psychology and chemistry and plans to attend medical school to pursue a career in psychiatry. He has been in long-term recovery for more than three years. When he decided to pursue his degrees, it was his first year of sobriety and he “wanted to feel supported and have a community.” He found that support at KSU and has become very actively engaged in the community.  

“I cannot fully express the impact scholarship support makes in the lives of our students,” said Dean Katie Kaukinen. “In many cases, a scholarship is the determining factor in whether a student earns their degree or not. This is a life-changing opportunity. I am so inspired by the students who spoke at this event, and the many other scholars who are working so hard to achieve their dreams,” she said. “This year we have established five new scholarship at the Radow College, but our work is just beginning. Of all KSU students, only 5% have been awarded Foundation-backed scholarships. We call on corporations, individuals, alumni, and others to consider contributing to existing scholarships or establish a new scholarship to support our students. You will have immeasurable impact.”