KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 19, 2021
Chris and Amanda Arrendale, both graduates from Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU), now 石榴直播, feel like they have come full circle.
The Arrendales, who both faced financial challenges as students, became the first individual alumni to establish an endowment for students within the (CCSE). The couple were honored Thursday at a ceremony on the University鈥檚 Marietta campus to announce their 鈥淣ever Stop Learning鈥 scholarship to help qualified students pay for college.
Chris Arrendale graduated from SPSU with a and Software Engineering in 2004, and his wife, Amanda, graduated from SPSU with a in 1998. Both struggled with paying for school and recognize the hardships many college students continue to face.
鈥淲e know, from personal experience, that one of the biggest burdens many students face is their financial situation,鈥 Chris Arrendale said. 鈥淥ur hope is that our gift will allow recipients to focus more on their schoolwork or internship, and not have that extra burden.鈥
The $50,000 scholarship will establish an endowment that will be awarded to students of CCSE who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
鈥淐hris and Amanda鈥檚 generosity will have a lasting impact on our students and our College,鈥 Interim Dean of CCSE Sumanth Yenduri said. 鈥淚 am grateful that they chose to invest in our students.鈥
The name 鈥淣ever Stop Learning鈥 comes from the couple鈥檚 philosophy on the importance of staying curious even after graduation. The Arrendales, who also have a dedicated 鈥淣ever Stop Learning鈥 bench on the Marietta campus, are excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of the College and said this is just the beginning of their involvement as alumni.
鈥淲e have such great memories of our time in College and wanted to find a way to give back and stay involved with the school that helped shape who we are today,鈥 said Amanda Arrendale. 鈥淲e are looking forward to seeing how our gift can help inspire future students and how it encourages them to pay it forward.鈥
The Arrendales hope the scholarship will inspire not only students on campus, but also encourage other SPSU alumni to reconnect with the University鈥檚 Marietta campus.
鈥 Abbey O鈥橞rien Barrows
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 石榴直播 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.