UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Da'Quan Kirkpatrick, a fourth-year Smeal student pursuing a bachelor's degree in management and a minor in business law, wants to be a lawyer. But without the emergency financial support he received from the Smeal Student Emergency Fund, he said that he might not have that chance.
"Growing up In the Bronx, my family didn't have a lot of money. But they believed in the power of education, and they've always been willing to sacrifice so that I could pursue my dreams," he said.
Even so, Kirkpatrick has needed to work nearly 40 hours a week, on top of his demanding class schedule, just to pay his living expenses.
"When I decided to become a lawyer, I didn’t know that I would need to take the LSATs. Or that I’d need to take a special class to prepare for them. And I certainly hadn’t budgeted for either expense,” he said. “I was afraid my dream would be over before it even began.”
Jamie Campbell, Smeal’s assistant dean for diversity enhancement programs, told Kirkpatrick about the Smeal Student Emergency Fund and helped him apply for aid.
“Without those resources, I don’t think I would be sitting here waiting to receive my LSAT scores and applying to law school,” Kirkpatrick said.
Smeal’s Student Emergency Fund, the beneficiary of Smeal’s 2021 GivingTuesday fundraising campaign, was created to help students facing an unanticipated financial crisis as they work to complete their degree. Those crises may include a parent losing a job, medical expenses, an unexpected additional semester of college, time away from the University to participate in co-ops or other professional opportunities, or myriad other events that can derail even the best-laid plans to finance a college education.
Smeal received gifts from a record number of donors in 2021 and raised more than $28,000. Penn State also set records for both fundraising success and participation in 2021, with more than 10,500 gifts totaling more than $1.25 million.
Smeal will raise funds for its Student Emergency Fund again this year on GivingTuesday.
John Barnes, a 1995 graduate with a degree in accounting and international business and a member of Smeal’s External Accounting Advisory Board, and his wife, Kassie, have sponsored a donor-count challenge for this year's campaign.
When Smeal’s GivingTuesday campaign reaches 25, 40, 60, 85, and 115 donors, bonus funds will be unlocked for a grand total of $5,000 in additional support for students.
“Kassie and I both understand how important it is to make emergency funds available for students facing an unexpected crisis because it happened to us. We both experienced significant family life events while in college and understand the stress this can cause families and students,” Barnes said.
“If this challenge encourages other alumni and friends to make a gift on GivingTuesday so that the unexpected doesn’t stand between Smeal students and graduation, then we are more than happy to step forward and help.”
Felisa Higgins, associate dean for undergraduate education, said the Student Emergency Fund is an important tool to ensure all Smeal students have the resources they need to be successful.
"Too often, we hear from students who, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, are forced to rethink how they will cover not just their tuition or their University fees, but how they'll meet their day-to-day expenses such as rent or groceries. That's what makes the Student Emergency Fund so important," Higgins said.
"I can tell you it is heartbreaking to learn that someone with a promising future drops out of school because an event that is beyond their control makes it so they can no longer afford to be here."
Higgins pointed out that it often takes just a few hundred dollars for a student to stay at Penn State and complete their degree.
"The lifetime benefits to that student in terms of better job opportunities, increased earnings potential and economic stability are so important," she said. "As Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, it's imperative that we help ensure our students are able to complete their degrees and make an impact in the world."
GivingTuesday takes place on Nov. 29, but an early fundraising period that began Monday will allow campaigns across the University to get a jump start on fundraising. To learn more and to make a gift as part of this year’s GivingTuesday campaign, visit Smeal’s GivingTuesday website.
With the record-breaking success of “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” which raised $2.2 billion from 2016 to 2022, philanthropy is helping to sustain the University’s mission of education, research and service to communities across the commonwealth and around the globe. Scholarships enable Penn State to open doors and welcome students from every background, support for transformative experiences allows students and faculty to fulfill their vast potential for leadership, and gifts toward discovery and excellence help serve and impact the world. To learn more about the impact of giving and the continuing need for support, please visit raise.psu.edu.