Straight from the heart: Award-winning students thank our donors

About 50 donors, students and Faculty of Law supporters turned out March 1, 2011, for the annual Award Donor reception to bring donors face-to-face with the students they have helped through our financial aid and academic prize programs.

Dean Mayo Moran talked about the significant and crucial role these aid program plays at the law school, and how it would not be possible without private supporters, such as David MacDonald, LLB 1981.

MacDonald spoke on behalf of Faculty of Law donors, and talked about the importance of giving back. He made special note that there were two reasons why he created the David MacDonald Award in Law and Business: “One because I believe in supporting excellence, and this law school exemplifies that; and two, because they asked me.”  MacDonald stressed fundraising efforts are more likely to be successful if people ask for support.

 
David MacDonald, LLB 1981

Third-year student Sinziana Tugulea spoke warmly and candidly on behalf of her fellow students, brilliantly highlighting the impact that donor-supported awards have had on her time at the law school. 

Tugulea said she would have been unable to attend the law school without the financial aid she had received, and she was profoundly grateful to the donors who had made her studies possible. She also spoke about the importance of the academic prize program.

“When students work so hard, in an environment where you know how amazing your peer group can be, it is nice to be recognized for achieving the top standing in a class.”

 
Sinziana Tugulea

The dean noted after Tugulea spoke that while Sinziana may have felt that she would have missed out on law school without donor support, it is actually the law school that would have been poorer if Sinziana could not have attended.

Photos by Jeff Kirk