Alex Damiecki ’20 competes in varsity swimming, has a summer internship lined up at a leading international professional services company, and is mindful about offering support to first-year students still adjusting to college. He considers what life might have been like had he not been offered a scholarship to help defray his tuition costs at Babson. “The scholarship I received played a big role in me attending school here,” he says. “If I wasn’t able to get assistance, I probably wouldn’t have been able to come.”
That scholarship didn’t come from a large gift from a single donor—or even two or three. Small donations from a number of alumni made it possible for Damiecki to focus on studying finance and accounting and swimming competitively. In fact, in 2018, numerous alumni gifts to Babson under $100 were combined to fund 15 scholarships for students in need.
“When alumni give back, they help sustain and strengthen Babson in more ways than they can imagine,” says Kathryn McCarron, managing director of annual giving. “These gifts help to ensure that Babson remains the standard for excellence in entrepreneurship education, empowering the business leaders of tomorrow with the skills and expertise to transform industries, strengthen communities, and improve the lives of people everywhere.”
“This scholarship gives me more options for what I want to do and where I want to work. It allows me a lot more flexibility. It’s unbelievable.” – Alex Damiecki ’20
Photo: Jon Endow
Regardless of the donation size, she adds, “When people support the Fund for Babson, gifts are put into action immediately to benefit students.”
Damiecki has been fascinated with business since childhood, when he took part in stock market games in elementary school in Centerville, Massachusetts. Babson’s comprehensive business curriculum was a huge draw as he applied to colleges. “The fact that I was able to learn finance, marketing, operations management, and emerging technology—that was very valuable,” he says, adding that this broad knowledge base was key in his decision to ultimately pursue accounting and finance. “Babson really helped guide me through that process.” This summer, he’ll intern at PwC in audit services.
Did you know that last year, gifts of under $100 funded 15 scholarships for students in need? Or that during the past 5 years alumni participation has grown from 15% to 30.5%?
Gifts of any amount help to ensure that Babson remains the standard for excellence in entrepreneurship education, empowering the business leaders of tomorrow with the skills and expertise to transform industries, strengthen communities, and improve the lives of people everywhere. Join our community of donors before our fiscal year-end on June 30.
Becoming part of Babson athletics has been another highlight of his time on campus. “The swim team is very close—it’s like a family,” Damiecki says. “I found a strong social connection with people on my team.” That experience, plus his education, “has helped me grow a lot,” he adds. The encouragement he received as a first-year student from upperclassmen wasn’t forgotten, and he now offers guidance to younger students.
With graduation on the horizon, Damiecki is grateful for what a scholarship affords him: the ability to focus on his studies and explore jobs and a career path without the worry of paying back student loans. “This gives me more options for what I want to do and where I want to work,” he says. “It allows me a lot more flexibility. It’s unbelievable.” – Jeannine Stein
Keep your connection to Babson strong and join our community of donors this fiscal year.