Boston College Athletics
Student-Athletes Say Thank You To Flynn Fund Donors
October 09, 2015 | Boston College Athletics
The annual luncheon is a unique opportunity for BC's best to say thank you
PHOTO GALLERY
Friday afternoon, almost 350 people gathered on the Conte Forum floor to celebrate giving.
The Flynn Fund's annual scholarship luncheon is a yearly event to recognize and thank the generosity of donors' contributions, especially those earmarked for scholarships.
Athletic scholarships at Boston College represent one of the most significant expenditures in the department's budget. The gifts that Flynn Fund donors make not only benefit the student-athletes who receive them, but also the department as a whole.
The annual luncheon is a special event. The scholarship donors meet the student-athletes who directly benefit from their donations. The impact, the personal stories, the direct connection. That's what makes the event so meaningful.
David Ramsey, a BC parent whose family's gifts fund the Ramsey Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, noted, "There's definitely a personal connection. And I'm also constantly impressed in how [the student-athletes] compete at such a high level athletically, many of them, and then still get all their work done. They're such high achievers. It just makes us proud to see such talented men and women moving forward at Boston College."
Gerry Ward '63, whose jersey hangs in the Conte Forum rafters after a stellar career on the basketball court, enjoys coming back for the annual scholarship luncheon.
"I enjoy it very much, these meetings, since I was a basketball player myself. I enjoy very much meeting the modern player, today's player, and talking to them and getting their feelings about BC, how they're enjoying it, how they're doing in school," Ward added.
The donors' generosity and interest isn't lost on the Boston College student-athletes. Eagles enjoy incredible opportunities, personal development and a life-long education from their Boston College opportunities.
A senior, Katty Workman just set the Boston College career kills record on the volleyball team. A stand-out performer for four years, she is one of the many student-athletes who appreciate their benefactors.
"An event like this means so much to me as a student-athlete. It gives us the opportunity to see the faces behind where our donations come from. I've had such a great four years at Boston College and this wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of our donors. So it means a lot for everyone to come out. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be supported by such a great community."
Johnny Adams, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, noted, "It's always good to meet up with these important folks. My donor is Eddie Pellagrini's brother and my dad actually played for [Pellagrini] when he was at BC, so that means a lot to me. I'm able to get to know him, and she shares stories about Mr. Pellagrini and my dad playing for him, so it's been a fantastic way to relate to them."
Ward, 50 years after his time at BC, added, "I was a basketball player, and my whole alliance is with Boston College because I so thoroughly enjoyed what it did for me here."
Downplaying why he got involved with the Flynn Fund, his wife, Diana, interjected – "You came on a scholarship!"
"Well, I came on a scholarship also," Gerry admitted. "I would have not been able to go to a private school if it wasn't for a basketball scholarship, so I appreciate that.
"But basketball meant a lot to me and it did a lot for me, so I'm happy to help another young man and maybe it can do the same for him," he continued.
During the luncheon, a student-athlete panel was moderated by Jon Meterparel and featured volleyball's Madison Lydon, soccer's Isaac Normesinu, field hockey's AshLeigh Sebia and football's Justin Simmons as they discussed their experiences at The Heights, on and off the field.
One of the more poignant moments came when cross country and track All-American Liv Westphal was featured in a video testimonial. Her story about coming to BC from France for her education – and how it was made possible because of the Flynn Fund donors like those sitting in the audience – struck a chord.
"Over the years, it never ceases to amaze me how impressive the undergraduates are who are receiving the scholarships," Ramsey noted. "[Our donation is] a legacy of my mother and father who started supporting Boston College, and we're just carrying it forward."
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Friday afternoon, almost 350 people gathered on the Conte Forum floor to celebrate giving.
The Flynn Fund's annual scholarship luncheon is a yearly event to recognize and thank the generosity of donors' contributions, especially those earmarked for scholarships.
Athletic scholarships at Boston College represent one of the most significant expenditures in the department's budget. The gifts that Flynn Fund donors make not only benefit the student-athletes who receive them, but also the department as a whole.
The annual luncheon is a special event. The scholarship donors meet the student-athletes who directly benefit from their donations. The impact, the personal stories, the direct connection. That's what makes the event so meaningful.
David Ramsey, a BC parent whose family's gifts fund the Ramsey Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, noted, "There's definitely a personal connection. And I'm also constantly impressed in how [the student-athletes] compete at such a high level athletically, many of them, and then still get all their work done. They're such high achievers. It just makes us proud to see such talented men and women moving forward at Boston College."
Gerry Ward '63, whose jersey hangs in the Conte Forum rafters after a stellar career on the basketball court, enjoys coming back for the annual scholarship luncheon.
"I enjoy it very much, these meetings, since I was a basketball player myself. I enjoy very much meeting the modern player, today's player, and talking to them and getting their feelings about BC, how they're enjoying it, how they're doing in school," Ward added.
The donors' generosity and interest isn't lost on the Boston College student-athletes. Eagles enjoy incredible opportunities, personal development and a life-long education from their Boston College opportunities.
A senior, Katty Workman just set the Boston College career kills record on the volleyball team. A stand-out performer for four years, she is one of the many student-athletes who appreciate their benefactors.
"An event like this means so much to me as a student-athlete. It gives us the opportunity to see the faces behind where our donations come from. I've had such a great four years at Boston College and this wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of our donors. So it means a lot for everyone to come out. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be supported by such a great community."
Johnny Adams, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, noted, "It's always good to meet up with these important folks. My donor is Eddie Pellagrini's brother and my dad actually played for [Pellagrini] when he was at BC, so that means a lot to me. I'm able to get to know him, and she shares stories about Mr. Pellagrini and my dad playing for him, so it's been a fantastic way to relate to them."
Ward, 50 years after his time at BC, added, "I was a basketball player, and my whole alliance is with Boston College because I so thoroughly enjoyed what it did for me here."
Downplaying why he got involved with the Flynn Fund, his wife, Diana, interjected – "You came on a scholarship!"
"Well, I came on a scholarship also," Gerry admitted. "I would have not been able to go to a private school if it wasn't for a basketball scholarship, so I appreciate that.
"But basketball meant a lot to me and it did a lot for me, so I'm happy to help another young man and maybe it can do the same for him," he continued.
During the luncheon, a student-athlete panel was moderated by Jon Meterparel and featured volleyball's Madison Lydon, soccer's Isaac Normesinu, field hockey's AshLeigh Sebia and football's Justin Simmons as they discussed their experiences at The Heights, on and off the field.
One of the more poignant moments came when cross country and track All-American Liv Westphal was featured in a video testimonial. Her story about coming to BC from France for her education – and how it was made possible because of the Flynn Fund donors like those sitting in the audience – struck a chord.
"Over the years, it never ceases to amaze me how impressive the undergraduates are who are receiving the scholarships," Ramsey noted. "[Our donation is] a legacy of my mother and father who started supporting Boston College, and we're just carrying it forward."
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