Student Opportunity Fund

The Student Opportunity Fund was created with the objective of significantly enhancing the academic, professional, personal and spiritual development of each Stonehill student.

Support the Student Opportunity Fund

These funds, which are made available through the generous support of donors to the College, are available to students in order to subsidize the costs associated with their participation in a wide range of high-impact learning activities. Preference is given to students who are able to clearly articulate and demonstrate the significant financial hardships or barriers that jeopardize their ability to participate in desired high-impact learning experiences. 

Donor Impact Report

group of students at nyc externship
New York City Externship 2024

Stonehill College has created a Student Opportunity Fund to help hard-working, deserving students by defraying the costs of academically-related expenses beyond tuition.

Thank you for your investment in the Student Opportunity Fund, which is ensuring that our students can focus on enhancing their academic and pre-professional careers without constant worrying about financial barriers and limitations.

Awards received from this fund impact the lives of our deserving students for many years to come—facilitating their growth towards active and prepared professionals, and enhancing their academic and professional development skills for success in their future careers.

Academic Year 2023-2024

  • 97 students received Student Opportunity Fund awards
  • $32,452 in total awards was given

As a business major, living in a foreign country for several months will allow me to become more knowledgeable of both the economic and societal livelihoods in these new surroundings. This will help with my career going forward since it will be a great experience to look back on when interacting with international companies. Any knowledge I can gain from this trip will definitely be useful in my future, not just through my career, but in all aspects of my life.

 

Traveling across the globe to different countries is something I hope to do frequently in the early stages of my adult life. Therefore, having the opportunity to get a head start on this goal while still in college is an unbelievable gift. I am so grateful for even being given this opportunity at a young age and will cherish the experience of studying abroad forever. 

Caitlin Clark, class of 2025

Words of Thanks

Helio S. Sousa Erazo

Class of 2024
As a Senior studying Finance with a double minor in Economics and Data Analytics, I am constantly seeking opportunities to enhance my learning experience at Stonehill College including the one that this award will be used for. Your kindness in providing financial assistance is going to be used to offset my travel expenses to New York to participate in a transformative professional development experience.

The opportunity made possible by your generosity will not only enrich my education but also contribute to my growth as a student and individual. It is through experiences like these that I can broaden my horizons, expand my knowledge, and develop valuable skills and connections that will serve me well in my future endeavors.

Once again, thank you for your generosity and belief in the potential of students like me. Your philanthropy makes a difference, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity.

Esther Minery

Class 2026
Stonehill College has been nothing but supportive, and it’s the perfect environment to thrive in. I always know there is a faculty or staff member who can help lead me in the right direction, and I know I’m not alone in my college journey. I am continuously grateful for my decision to come to this school, as everyone on this campus genuinely wants the best for one another.

Words can’t express how grateful I am for your generous donation. I just returned from the New York City Externship Program, and as someone who grew up in a small town with not much money to be able to travel, it was a milestone moment for me to be able to visit the city and meet with alumni at their prestigious companies. I got the true NYC experience, and I gained so much knowledge and experience in just the couple of days I was on the trip. I left feeling inspired, and I have never been more motivated to continue making strides in the right direction of my future career. This trip allowed me to discover different jobs available to me, gain experience in a new environment, and prove to myself that hard work and determination do not go unnoticed. Although there was much fear when it came to going to a new place with no knowledge of the city and how to navigate it, I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone, and in return, I got a life-changing experience that will continue to guide me towards success and happiness in my future. Had it not been for your selfless donation, I wouldn’t have been able to be present in the moment and soak in the experience in its entirety.

Thank you so much for this award, and I hope to be able to help someone the same way you helped me in the future.

Nick Bontempo

Class of 2024
Thank you so much for donating money towards our Skyhawk Investment Group New York City Workshop. This experience was the highlight of my Stonehill career, and without your donation, this would not have been possible. On the trip, we visited the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, Citadel Securities, Cowen, and Truist. During these visits, we were able to interview executives and employees, and this was an amazing learning opportunity for us students. During this visit, we were also able to showcase what Stonehill students can do, and we impressed many of the companies. The companies we visited are regarded as some of the top Finance companies in the world, and without funding, we would never have been able to visit. This visit has enhanced my learning and showed me what I would like to do after my time at Stonehill ends.

Oriana Cappella

Class of 2026
I want to thank you very much for your generous donation to offset my travel expenses for the 2023 Ignatian Family Teach­In for Justice in Washington D.C.

Your great generosity will provide me with the opportunity to invest in the various workshops and networking sessions when I am at the teach-in with the Stonehill H.O.P.E. Service Immersion Program. As a trip leader in the program, I will be learning new skills surrounding a wide variety of social justice topics to bring that knowledge to my trip group that will help me feel confident in co-leading a Spring Break trip to Phoenix, AZ. As someone who is very invested in community service and faith formation, your support through this award relieves any financial stress I would have had before going down to Washington D.C. and will motivate me to put in my best effort during every session of the conference. This is an experience I would not be able to participate in if it was not for the kindness and thoughtfulness of donations like this.

I, once again, greatly thank you for your wonderful goodness through this award and will truly make this experience the most rewarding and memorable it can be.

Student Opportunity Fund

By the Numbers

$190,277
Total Awarded

Since the Student Opportunity Award's establishment in 2014

707
Student Beneficiaries

Approximate number of students receiving awards to date

$350
Student Opportunity Award

Average award amount

This summer I am excited to embark on a meaningful internship experience at the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance as a marketing intern. With the help of the Student Opportunity Award funds, I will be able to support their marketing team by managing their social media accounts, promoting fundraisers, and contributing to their website. It fulfills my personal goal of making a positive impact on the environment and aligns with my aspiration to use marketing as a tool for advocacy and change.

In conclusion, I am incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Student Opportunity Award, which has enabled me to pursue this invaluable experience. It is opportunities like these that reaffirm my commitment to my academic and professional goals while allowing me to contribute meaningfully to the community.

With Gratitude

Thanks to our benefactors, the Student Opportunity Fund supports the following student expenses:

Local Internships

Local internship opportunities supported by the Student Opportunity Fund often lead students to their desired career path and provide them with the experience and skills to pursue their respective professions. In some cases, it is because of the Student Opportunity Fund that students are able to afford to take these internships, which are often unpaid, without worrying about the cost of transportation and parking.

Academic Conferences

Stonehill students utilize the Student Opportunity Fund to attend academic conferences, many at which they present their own research and findings. Since travel and registration costs to get to these conferences can often be expensive, many students apply to the Student Opportunity Fund to help assist them.

Study Abroad and Travel Experiences

The Student Opportunity Fund assists with travel experiences that otherwise would not have been possible due to financial cost. These experiences include studying abroad, taking travel courses offered by Stonehill, as well as going on H.O.P.E. service immersion trips.

Graduate School Preparation

The Student Opportunity Fund allows Stonehill students to attend outside classes, such as exam prep courses, and take entrance exams for levels of higher education such as graduate school or medical school.

I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am for Stonehill College and the opportunities it has given me. Additionally, I am extremely grateful for this award and your contributions, as it has allowed me to capitalize on those opportunities. I am striving to graduate from Stonehill with a Special Education teaching licensure as I prepare to attend graduate school to further my studies to teach students with disabilities.
My academic goals are strengthened by this award as it made it easier to take my MTELS, required to be a teacher in MA. These tests are a large expense that was made less of a financial burden due to your generosity. I could not express my gratitude more and due to your kindness, I am now in a better position to achieve my academic and career goals. I am beyond thankful for your generosity in this award.

Support Stonehill Students

Your gift to the Student Opportunity Fund provides excellent opportunities to Stonehill students.

Make A Gift

Learn More

Make a Gift Ways to Give In Memoriam Gifts Areas to Support Giving Opportunities Honor Roll of Donors Office of Alumni Engagement

For You