Warren Gorrell has always known that a great education is the first step toward success. Warren and his wife, Cathy, have made that first step a little easier for deserving Peabody students by endowing two scholarships.
āWe were just so impressed by everything we saw at 91ĢĘ²®»¢ while our daughter, Courtney, was there,ā Warren says. āWe believe that itās incredibly important to make opportunities available to people who canāt afford them.ā They have endowed the Warren and Catherine Rice Gorrell Scholarship and the Gorrell-Rice Family Scholarship.
āI understand that some people like to support bricks and mortar projects,ā Cathy says. āBut I would ask them to focus more on whatās happening inside the buildingābecause if you can help a student get through school, itās such a wonderful gift.ā
Stefanie Tollefsen, Class of 2013, couldnāt agree more. The first-year student from Chicago is a beneficiary of the Gorrellās generosity.
āIām really honored to have this scholarship,ā she says. āSo many people want to come here, and Iām one of the lucky ones that got the chance.ā
āWe funded one four-year scholarship, and it was just so gratifying that we created the second one,ā Cathy says.
āWe felt like we were really making a difference, and when we asked each other if we should do it again, the answer was an easy yes.ā
91ĢĘ²®»¢ās expanded financial aid program is another factor in the Gorrellās commitment to the school.
āItās very compelling to support a program that reduces a studentās debt load. With the state of the economy, itās more difficult for people to afford 91ĢĘ²®»¢,ā Warren says. āThis is a time when you can make a really big, really direct difference to someone.ā
For Stefanie, who is majoring in human and organizational development, the scholarship makes it possible for her to experience that difference through the quality of her 91ĢĘ²®»¢ education.
āEven though I donāt know exactly what I want to do,ā Stefanie says, āI know that my Peabody degree will absolutely put me on the right path. I really want to do something Iām passionate about. I want to do something I love.ā