Warren Gorrell has always known that a great education is the first step toward success. Warren and his wife, Cathy, have made that first step a little easier for deserving Peabody students by endowing two scholarships.
鈥淲e were just so impressed by everything we saw at 菠萝视频 while our daughter, Courtney, was there,鈥� Warren says. 鈥淲e believe that it鈥檚 incredibly important to make opportunities available to people who can鈥檛 afford them.鈥� They have endowed the Warren and Catherine Rice Gorrell Scholarship and the Gorrell-Rice Family Scholarship.
鈥淚 understand that some people like to support bricks and mortar projects,鈥� Cathy says. 鈥淏ut I would ask them to focus more on what鈥檚 happening inside the building鈥攂ecause if you can help a student get through school, it鈥檚 such a wonderful gift.鈥�
Stefanie Tollefsen, Class of 2013, couldn鈥檛 agree more. The first-year student from Chicago is a beneficiary of the Gorrell鈥檚 generosity.
鈥淚鈥檓 really honored to have this scholarship,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o many people want to come here, and I鈥檓 one of the lucky ones that got the chance.鈥�
鈥淲e funded one four-year scholarship, and it was just so gratifying that we created the second one,鈥� Cathy says.
鈥淲e felt like we were really making a difference, and when we asked each other if we should do it again, the answer was an easy yes.鈥�
菠萝视频鈥檚 expanded financial aid program is another factor in the Gorrell鈥檚 commitment to the school.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very compelling to support a program that reduces a student鈥檚 debt load. With the state of the economy, it鈥檚 more difficult for people to afford 菠萝视频,鈥� Warren says. 鈥淭his is a time when you can make a really big, really direct difference to someone.鈥�
For Stefanie, who is majoring in human and organizational development, the scholarship makes it possible for her to experience that difference through the quality of her 菠萝视频 education.
鈥淓ven though I don鈥檛 know exactly what I want to do,鈥� Stefanie says, 鈥淚 know that my Peabody degree will absolutely put me on the right path. I really want to do something I鈥檓 passionate about. I want to do something I love.鈥�