A Life-changing Journey Begins

Five students from war-torn Ukraine just took their first steps on a life-changing journey this fall, thanks to the incredible generosity of a Sam Rose ’58. Having already given more than $27 million in scholarship gifts, making a Dickinson education possible for more than 225 students, Rose stepped up once again, providing $2 million for scholarships that will pay all costs for these students, giving them a chance for a future they may not have deemed possible.

“Education is a great place to make an investment,” says Rose, whose maternal grandfather was born in Kyiv. “These students have endured more than a year of war in their homeland, and I’m happy to give them the opportunity to succeed with a life-changing Dickinson education to become leaders and problem-solvers.”

In addition to tuition for all four years, the Sam Rose ’58 International Scholarship covers the costs of textbooks, dining and living expenses including support for travel, health insurance and other basic needs through the academic year in addition to support during the college’s summer and winter breaks. And the students will benefit not just financially but also with mentorship and internship opportunities courtesy of Rose. This September, for instance, the cohort of students had their first opportunity to meet with Rose, during a dinner at President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, home, during which Rose had the opportunity to discuss the students future plans with them.

Opportunities for mentorship and community like this are one of Yelyzaveta Buriak ’27’s favorite aspects of her Dickinson experience so far. “I was looking for a university where there will be a friendly and supportive community, and Dickinson has it,” she says, adding that she’s also eager to take advantage of the college’s strong study-abroad program. “I’m delighted to see so many opportunities because I am a person who loves to learn new languages and visit other countries.”

Similarly, Maya Bondarenko ’27 is anxious to take advantage of Dickinson’s global education, and she likes the wide variety of subjects she’s already able to explore. “The opportunity to study a variety of disciplines within this field is exciting to me, and I am also looking forward to the prospect of studying abroad,” she says.

Rose has long been passionate about fostering social change and sees scholarship giving as a way to “level the playing field” for students from all economic backgrounds. The Samuel G. Rose ’58 Scholarship provides assistance to economically disadvantaged students from urban areas in the U.S.—a cause that’s personally meaningful for Rose, a first-generation college student who grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Baltimore. Rose completed his Dickinson education with assistance through a 50/50 scholarship-loan and went on to earn a law degree and build a successful and high profile career as a real-estate developer. He has also contributed to scholarships for international students.

“Thanks to Sam’s incredible generosity, we are able to offer these students a world-class education away from the war in Ukraine,” said Dickinson President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, who placed a series of calls to Ukraine so he could personally share the scholarship offer with each student. “It’s critical that we welcome international perspectives, and we are excited to meet and learn from our new Ukrainian students, who will help us build a more interesting and engaging campus community.”

Published August 1, 2023