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Impact Stories

Every Gift Has a Story

When you make a gift to Pepperdine, you play a critical role in accelerating our students' progress toward achieving their life dreams as well as enabling them to become the kind of purpose-driven servant leaders who can change the world for the better. Without a doubt, scholarships grant opportunities and impact lives. Read the stories of success that donor philanthropy makes possible every day throughout our campus community.

 

 

Alaya McKinney

Alaya McKinney

SPP Student With MS Plans to Use Her Advanced Education to Advocate for the Disabled

"Being a conservative Christian woman living in today's political climate, I felt Pepperdine would be the perfect fit. Plus, I loved Dean Peterson's stance on diversity of thought and free thinking. It’s just a wonderful, safe community all around.”

Alaya's Story

Lou and Kathy Colombano

Lou and Kathy Colombano

 

Loving Parents Leave a Lasting Legacy in Honor of Their Son

“Pepperdine is special because of the people—So many friends and friendships over the years. Pepperdine creates a sense of purpose and guidance for all.”

Colombanos' Story

Sam Sun on Violin

Samuel Sun

 

Young Maestro Shares His Love of Music with the World

"The career path of an artist has always contained a degree of unpredictability and risk, so I am extremely grateful for the financial flexibility that my scholarships have given me as I embark on this uncertain yet rewarding journey."

Samuel's Story

Veteran Isaac Torres

Isaac Torres

A Marine Corps Veteran Realizes His Dream to Experience a New Culture

“Without a doubt, a Pepperdine education along with the University’s veterans services, are top notch. I would recommend that all college-bound veterans apply to be PeppVets!”

Isaac's Story

Joshua Elizondo, Seaver College Student

Joshua Elizondo

 

Joshua Elizondo Offers Inspiration and Guidance to Fellow Foster Youth

"I'm extremely grateful for Pepperdine's support which has enabled me to reach for my educational goals. The Rogers Guardian Scholars, LisaKay Epstein Scholarship, and the Horizon Scholars Emergency Fund have made this all possible. I'm overcoming many challenges and am now helping other foster youth thrive."

Joshua's Story

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Akin Akinwumi (far left) with
Dr. Hunter Paris (far right)

 

Professor-Student Partnership Engage in Study to Change the Way We Treat Obesity

"I hope to become an orthopedic doctor but I also want to be heavily involved in research in the field. This study has helped me take steps toward achieving my goal because it gave me hands-on experience with multiple aspects of conducting research, from study design, to data collection, to presentation of our study to reviewing other studies and more."

Akin's and Paris' Stroy

Renee Jackson, SPP graduate

Renee Jackson

 

SPP Grad Student Heeded The Lord's Will to Change Her Life's Mission

"I felt a pressing in my spirit that told me the career I was called to pursue was political. The next day I went to the counselor's office and changed my major. Luckily, the Lord was guiding my steps further back than I had realized."

Renee's Story

Evelyn Booth

Evelyn Booth

 

GSEP Graduate Establishes Scholarship to Give Back to Those Who Serve Our Country

"Given that Pepperdine's mission includes teaching students to not only become leaders, but to remain in service to others after graduation, we felt that Pepperdine was a particularly good fit for building upon the unique skills and strong leadership abilities many veterans who return from service possess."

Evelyn's Story

Dr Shreyas Gandhi and Swati Gandhi

Dr. Shreyas and Swati Gandhi

 

Graduate With Three Pepperdine Degrees Gives the Gift of Education to Future Students

"Not all students come from a wealthy background or have a support structure in place. A scholarship is one tangible thing we can do to help others, and therefore help society as a whole."

Shreyas' Story

Jennifer Chor

Jennifer Chor

 

Law School Student's Mission is to be an Agent of Change

I strongly believe in contributing to local communities to give back to those in need and hope to continue to do so in the future."

Jennifer's Story

Jeremy Haynes

Jeremy Haynes

 

Graziadio Student Finds Inspiration to be a More Compassionate Leader

"I feel like I have gained skills that help me to be a better servant leader as well as given me incredible perspective and insight."

Jeremy's Story