Update: The Campaign for Northwestern

INTEGRATING STUDENT EXPERIENCE

One of the strategic priorities of the We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern is making a Northwestern education more accessible to the very best students, regardless of their financial resources. Treyvon Thomas, a sophomore, exemplifies the importance of this goal.

Thomas grew up in Sarasota, Fla., where he was raised by his extended family. He developed a passion for performance when he was in elementary school and nurtured his talents by earning scholarships for acting camps and dance lessons.

With the help of teachers, mentors and others in his community, Thomas excelled in high school, carrying a 4.3 GPA. He also landed lead roles in several school productions, including the role of the Tin Man in The Wiz.

Thomas enrolled at Northwestern after receiving the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Family Scholarship, which enables low-income students to attend Northwestern without taking out loans. He was also selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to receive a Gates Millennium Scholarship, which supports his undergraduate studies and, depending on the field, master’s and doctoral work.

Thomas is pursuing a double major in theater and sociology, a minor in global health and a certificate in music theater. He mentors students from Chicago Public Schools and also participates in dance and improv groups on campus. This spring, he studied public health and development through a Northwestern program at Stellenbosch University near Cape Town, South Africa. After graduating, he hopes to join the Peace Corps.

“Northwestern has already given me incredible opportunities, as well as the freedom to explore completely new territory,” Thomas says. “If you’re thinking about donating and wondering whether it’s going to make any difference, I can tell you — it will.”

STRENGTHENING NORTHWESTERN THROUGH ‘WE WILL’ CAMPAIGN

The impact of We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern can be seen across the University.

More than 101,000 people have made one or more gifts to Northwestern during the Campaign, for a total of more than $2.2 billion. Reaching these significant milestones demonstrates the commitment and generosity of the University’s alumni, parents and friends across the globe. 

Donors have contributed more than $1.2 billion to support faculty, more than $118 million for scholarships and more than $285 million for facility improvements, including the renovation and construction of several buildings on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.

All gifts have a tremendous collective impact on Northwestern. Donors have made more than 41,000 gifts of $100 or less, providing crucial support for research, scholarships, student life and other key University initiatives.