Giving With Purpose Spotlights
Natalie Hoffman '06 was the first official member of the newly formed X-Club Giving
Society at Saint Xavier University. The X-Club recognizes undergraduate alumni who
graduated in the past 10 years and who support the Saint Xavier Fund with an annual
gift of $30 or more.
Natalie made her first gift to the University in Fall 2012. She supports the University because, as she says,
I had such a great time while at SXU. I received an education that opened so many doors for me. During nursing interviews when I mentioned Saint Xavier University, I knew I had that job! It is also where I made amazing friends that will last me my lifetime.
Natalie, a School of Nursing alumna who was very involved on campus, enjoyed her time at SXU. She appreciated the "tight knight community" and that teachers actually knew and recognized her as "Natalie" instead of just knowing her as a number.
Her wonderful experiences are only part of the reason she decided to support Saint Xavier. To Natalie, giving to SXU means, "I am allowing someone to have the same and maybe even better experiences than I did. Those experiences are invaluable."
For current students, Natalie has some words of wisdom:
This is going to be the best and hardest time in your life. All that you do now will help to shape you as a person and allow you to make an impact in the world. Don't waste it! And don't forget to enjoy the journey.
If you are an alum who is considering making your first gift, Natalie says to donate to "help students put their footprints on SXU—just as you were allowed to do!"
Make a gift today and join the X-Club.
For more information about the X-Club Giving Society, please contact Kendyl Lyons at klyons@sxu.edu or 773-298-3907.
Amber Prskalo, a junior in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program chose
SXU for those exact same reasons and has loved Saint Xavier since her first day on
campus. A very involved student, Amber is President of the Resident Housing Association,
a Transitions Peer Mentor, a FOCUS leader, and a Resident Peer Minister. She sits
on the board for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and is helping
to form the Best Buddies Organization on campus. Ambitiously, she is also training
to serve as the Student Ambassador Special Visit Coordinator.
While hard work, impeccable time management skills, and determination have enabled her to balance a hectic schedule, Amber credits scholarships and donors for her successes. She says, "Without having the scholarship I received, I truly believe I would not be here today. My scholarship definitely made a difference in my life, and without receiving one I would not have succeeded as well in school."
Amber is hopeful that she will be admitted to Saint Xavier's highly competitive graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. After graduate school, she plans to work in a hospital as a speech pathologist, and eventually pursue her Doctorate degree after raising a family.
Amber would like everyone, donors and non-donors, to know this:
Saying "thank you" to the donors is not enough. Words cannot even match the feelings I have for the donations they have made to Saint Xavier University. They impact the lives of so many students here in more ways than one can imagine. They have given the chance to so many first generation college students, like myself, to pursue anything we want in life. Without their donations, this would not be possible. So, to them, thank you for making a difference in the lives of the students here at Saint Xavier, like myself, and God Bless!
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