The University of Toledo

UT Donors and Students Connected by Sponsorships

University of Toledo pharmacy juniors enter the first year of the professional program with an already strong foundation. They also begin this step of their journey with a touch of special support and inspiration from successful pharmacy graduates and friends.

With a gift of $150 or more, donors can sponsor a student through the College’s White Coat Mentor program. Each contribution provides a student with a UT pharmacy lab coat and name tag, as well as a student membership in the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

Sponsors also have the ability to inspire students with advice or stories about their own college experience or career. These comments are tucked inside a pocket of their student’s new lab coat, presented at the Professional Advancement Ceremony each fall. In addition, sponsors may allow the College to forward their contact information, making the mentorship more valuable through mentor-student interaction.

The program has been met with great enthusiasm by both donors and students. “I am thankful for the generosity and kindness of my mentor,” said pharmacy student Lisa Samaroo. “The ceremony was one of the most important events of my life, and I will always remember that my mentor helped to make that day possible. UT has been a great foundation, and I hope to become successful through my education and experiences.”

Both the colleges of Law and Medicine offer similar programs, notes Dan Saevig, associate vice president of alumni relations.

College of Law donors have the opportunity to sponsor both graduating and incoming law students. Graduating students receive a specially engraved Scales of Justice, and incoming students receive a leather portfolio and pen. Donors can sponsor both for a total gift of $95, or a portfolio/pen gift only for $35.

The College of Medicine’s Stethoscope Program provides a symbolic yet useful gift to each graduating MD student: a Littman Classic S.E. stethoscope. PhD candidates receive a handblown glass piece made by a local artist. The gifts include both the graduate and the donor’s names and class years. The cost of each is an $85 contribution.

The stethoscope program has been so successful, said Mr. Saevig, that excess contributions have allowed the purchase of white coats for incoming medical students.

“The program has three goals,” he said. “One is to give students something of tangible use to them in their academic or professional careers. Another is to help them understand how important philanthropy is in helping them follow in the successful footsteps of others. And third is to provide an opportunity for people to give to a rewarding program, nurturing their continued support to the College and its students.”

For more information, contact:
Pharmacy: Contact Jeff Barton at 419-530-5413 or make a gift at http://www.give2ut.utoledo.edu/phm_whitecoat.asp
Law: Contact Sue Fandrey at 419-530-5359 or make a gift at http://www.give2ut.utoledo.edu/scalesofjustice.asp
Medicine: Contact Dan Saevig at 419-530-4008 or make a gift at http://www.give2ut.utoledo.edu/medsteth.asp