Paying it Forward - Jen McGonigle '95

When Jen McGonigle '95 was creating her estate plans, she refused to sign the document unless it included a scholarship at Susquehanna University to benefit students.

A biology major who also competed in cross country, track and field, and lacrosse, McGonigle knows firsthand what it means to receive financial aid from a generous donor. She worked her way through high school and knew that it would be the same in college. Fortunately, she was able to secure a scholarship created for students like her who work to make ends meet.

"There is no way I could have afforded to come to Susquehanna without it. My goal in life is to fund a scholarship and make a difference for someone else. It is my way of thanking the person who made a difference for me," McGonigle says. Her new Working Scholarship at Susquehanna will help future generations of Susquehannans to reach their full potential. Reflective of her own experience, the scholarship will give preference to female students who have worked through high school and will continue to do so while at Susquehanna. Moreover, it will include the same 2.8 GPA requirement that she had to maintain as a scholarship recipient. "I put in many hours of work, study and sports. The 2.8 GPA requirement pushed me to find balance," she says.

McGonigle says the support of her husband, Jeremy, was crucial in making the decision to include Susquehanna in their plans. "He never once said to me, 'Why would you consider this?' He understands how much Susquehanna influenced me, and how critical and pivotal it was in my life. Going to a different school I would've had a much different financial experience. He's 110 percent supportive of this, and knows that for me it's not about the Coach purse or Michael Kors shoes. He told me that every time we put money toward the scholarship, it's my purse and shoes." Being mindful of the gift's structure was also a critical step in the process. "The will is written in such a way right now that the scholarship is just a part of it, and doesn't impact the ability for me to provide for my children in the future," McGonigle says.

But why, with a family left to raise, would she insist on a provision for Susquehanna in her will? "I see the scholarship as helping to forge a path for someone else. People can take anything from you-you can lose your house, cars, but people can never take your mind or your education. The most important thing in your life is your education ," McGonigle says. "SU really and truly provided a place for me to lay the platform that I needed. That's a debt I can't repay."