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Gifts from variety of donors make a �ǿմ�ý education accessible to first-generation American and college graduate

Paola Espinoza remembers the exact moment they were accepted to �ǿմ�ý.

Espinoza’s mom used to work at a hotel near campus where she often heard visiting �ǿմ�ý parents talk about their children’s experiences and accomplishments.

“She decided that was exactly the future she wanted for me,” said Espinoza, whose parents immigrated from Mexico. No one in their family had attended college, so Espinoza lacked guidance in the application process and only applied to �ǿմ�ý. 

Then, at 9 p.m. on December 19, 2019, they got the good news: they were accepted with a substantial scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition.

“Suddenly, something that was seen as completely unfathomable to me and my family became a reality,” Espinoza said.

Achieving success

Just a few weeks ago, Espinoza crossed the stage at the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center to accept their bachelor’s degree with a triple major in history, political science and Spanish. All three courses of study have personal significance to the first-generation American.

“I grew up around my parents studying for their citizenship test and became well-versed in American history and trivia,” they said. “But I never saw myself represented in history books and wanted to rectify that by learning more.”

Espinoza plans to pursue a career in criminal law—something they feel their �ǿմ�ý education has well-prepared them for. Their advisor helped facilitate an internship with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, where they have been working as a clerk for a year, making connections with judges and lawyers.

They also hope their third major, Spanish, will serve as an asset in the field.

An echoing impact

Espinoza has received various scholarships over the years that have made their robust �ǿմ�ý education possible. The first was the President’s Challenge scholarship, a fund initiated by President Emerita Barbara R. Snyder and supported by several donors.

Then, in their senior year, Espinoza was awarded the Cyrus Wintersea Scholarship. The fund’s namesake was a 1937 alumnus of Adelbert College—a �ǿմ�ý predecessor school. He included �ǿմ�ý as a beneficiary in his estate, establishing the fund upon his death in 1983.

Wintersea also created a trust for his mother, who survived him by seven years. Upon her passing, the remainder of the trust was added to the endowed fund at �ǿմ�ý, bringing its total value to $2.6 million in 1990. Today, the fund is worth more than $6.1 million and has helped thousands of students pursue their dreams.

“I could not have attended �ǿմ�ý without the aid of donors,” said Espinoza, reflecting on their education and the countless opportunities it has provided. “[They] have created an enormous change in my life.”

Originally published in the summer 2024 issue of Forward Thinking magazine