With the help of the grant, eight students in communication disorders have had the opportunity to attend the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conferences; one student in criminal justice served as a summer intern at the Department of State in Washington, D.C.; another student in gerontology/social work attended the Alzheimer's Public Policy Forum; one medical technology student was given funds to help with transportation to his clinical sites; and two students used their funds for university expenses, travel and relocation.

Joshua Otiso, a senior medical technology student, reported, “The award has been of insurmountable help in enabling me to meet my financial obligations while interning at New Vision Medical Laboratory at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio.”

Stephanie Hughes, a graduate student in communication disorders, used her grant to support travel costs to a professional conference in California, where she presented her research. “The feedback and supportive comments I received on this research were very helpful. I plan to rerun the study and submit it for future publication,” she said.

The college introduced the P illars grant program during the 2005-06 academic year to provide financial support to College of Health and Human Services students. The grants are funded by annual financial contributions from alumni and friends of the College. There will be many more students who will have educational opportunities because of alumni and friends' support of the grant program.