Scripps alumnus celebrates OHIO friendships through scholarship
The 73 West State St. friends traveled to Ireland together to celebrate years of friendship. Left to right: Brian Unger, Marianne Kelley, Bill Brand, Sarah Thayer Schneider, Elizabeth Stanic Douet, Paul Schneider (Sarah鈥檚 husband), and Kate Bartter Arnold. Photo courtesy of Sarah Thayer Schneider.
For many Bobcats, their degree represents much more than an accumulation of textbooks, grades, or credit hours. The bonds students form with one another outside the classroom help define the OHIO experience and lay the foundation for lifelong friendships.
This couldn鈥檛 be truer for Bill Brand, BSC 鈥87. Before his successful career in the media and retail industries as president of the lifestyle shopping network HSN and chief marketing officer of HSN, Inc., Brand forged some of his most important friendships in Athens, at the house he and others rented: 73 West State St.
鈥淲hen I think about my time in Athens, the memories always go back to the people who made those years some of the best times of my life. The academics were important, but none of it could be the same without the residents and friends of 73 West State St.,鈥 Brand said.
Now more than 30 years later, Brand has commemorated his time at 帝王会所 by establishing the 73 West State St. Award, a scholarship for students in the Scripps College of Communication.
Created in honor of his roommates and friends Kate Bartter Arnold, BSJ 鈥87; Marianne Kelley, BFA 鈥87; Dan Krosse, BSJ 鈥87; Sarah Thayer Schneider, BSC 鈥87; Elizabeth Stanic Douet, BSJ 鈥87; Brian Unger, BSC 鈥87; the scholarship is open to sophomores who have an affinity to the school and represent the spirit of the campus through their extracurricular involvement.
鈥淚 wanted to capture the memories of the people who made my experiences what they were. It鈥檚 all about the relationships you make, the way you鈥檙e involved and the voice you find in yourself over these pivotal years,鈥 Brand said.
Schneider, a former resident of 73 West State St. and Brand鈥檚 lifelong friend, reflected on what the scholarship means to her.
鈥淲e weren鈥檛 the best of students, but we all found our place 鈥 we all found our voice. Bill wanted to honor students who have done the same,鈥 Schneider said.
Scholarship applicants write an essay that focuses on the relationships that drive them and their involvement with their major or the University.
鈥淭he academics are the foundation of the institution that are so valuable during your time in school, but the relationships you make are what allow you to grow in the years following,鈥 Schneider said.
For scholarship recipient Sarah Stier, the 73 West State St. Award enabled an experience of a lifetime.
Photojournalism student Sarah Stier used her scholarship funding to travel to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to take photos. Photo courtesy Sarah Stier.
A senior studying photojournalism, history, and sports management, Stier had the opportunity to travel to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
鈥淭he scholarship came to me at a time I needed it the most. Going to the Rio Olympics to take photos was a life dream of mine. If it wasn鈥檛 for the scholarship, it wouldn鈥檛 have been possible,鈥 Stier said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank Bill Brand enough.鈥
She plans to pursue a career in sports media and photography after graduation, and said her experience has been enriched by the relationships she has formed during her time at OHIO.
鈥淢y college experience has been incredible. Brand is right when he emphasizes that college is just as much about pursuing this awesome education as it is building relationships with friends, the community and your professors,鈥 Stier said.
Brand believes the scholarship captures the true spirit of the University and Athens.
鈥淭he story of the 73 West State crew is not a unique one. It鈥檚 representative of the types of relationships people invest in during their time in Athens,鈥 Brand said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about this remarkable community that always finds a way to come together to support each other. That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about.鈥