Page 21 - CALIFORNIA WOMAN - FALL EDITION 2024 - FINAL

CEF LOAN RECIPIENT GRADUATES

CONGRATULATIONS TO JORDAN BENNETT!

The following letter was received from the most recent graduate who received a
loan from the California BPW Education Fund. Although it is lengthy, I have
included it in its entirety to let our CFBPW members read about the impact that
our donations can have on the lives of young people. It is my sincere hope that it

will inspire you to continue in your support of CEF.

Rosemary Enzer, CEF President

Dear CEF Board:

I finished my collegiate career with a 3.57 GPA and graduated Cum Laude
receiving my Bachelors of Science Degree in Public Health. I am wholeheartedly
thankful for the opportunity I was given to attend Santa Clara University. My
experience at SCU has shaped all aspects of my life both personally and

professionally. I always knew that I would find some way to go to college, but
never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be able to afford such a

prestigious school as SCU. Thank you for making that dream become a reality.

During my graduation ceremony, the word our President used to describe my class
was resilient. I could not have agreed more. I graduated high school when COVID-

19 first broke out (I used the term “graduated" lightly, because we did not hold a
traditional ceremony, nor did we finish the last part of our senior year together).
However, it didn’t matter because we had college to look forward to. But like most
things in life, we were thrown another curveball, COVID-19 was still going

strong and I was not able to live on campus. My freshman year of college was
entirely online. However Spring Quarter 2021 I was one of the fortunate students

allowed to live on campus because I was an athlete. I lived in a small dorm room
where the other athletes resided, however, we were not able to hang out with each
other. All athletes were dedicated to living in a “bubble” with your team because
we were equally dedicated to staying safe and to playing our sport. Thankfully,

sophomore year we were all finally able to return to campus and hold in person
classes! It was the most thrilling and daunting day when we first returned in
September 2021. As a sophomore, I felt like a freshman because I knew nothing

about the true college experience. It didn’t matter because that first year brought