More than scholarships
One office changed my educational journey

By Gabryelle Breski
Knightly News Reporter
gabryelle.breski@mymail.centralpenn.edu
Meeting someone in your desired field is always interesting. Sometimes, it can be intimidating or exciting. However, the person I spent the last few weeks with, Sandra Box, director of Central Penn College’s Education Foundation, has made a long-lasting impression on me regarding my future in the nonprofit world.
The Central Penn College Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for student scholarships. The Education Foundation helps to relieve some financial burdens for the diverse student body of Central Penn. I chose to work with this organization due to its impact on my educational journey, as I have received many scholarships from the foundation and have worked full-time most of my college career. I appreciate the organization’s mission of helping my peers and future students continue their education at a lower cost. Also, the Education Foundation is supported by college alums who have received scholarships, and I feel it is excellent that alumni continue encouraging new students to be their best.
Sandra, or Sandy, as most know her, always has a smile and is willing to do as much as she can to help those around her succeed. As a student, I can appreciate her work for the foundation by raising money for scholarships I have been awarded. However, I can also appreciate Sandy through the eyes of a soon-to-be graduate, as she has guided me into the nonprofit side of communications and has been encouraging and uplifting since I met her.
We began working together this summer to prepare for a critical event for the foundation as well as Sandy’s retirement at the end of the year. In our COM420 Projects in Corporate Communication class, the project started with the idea of working with an organization we felt connected to or would be in the field we wanted to work in after college. Because I began in corporate communications, I knew I wanted to work in nonprofit organizations, and I met Sandy last year as a part of another project. Sandy has been a phenomenal mentor, and I could not be more appreciative of the lessons she has taught me in her profession.
The most significant part of the project was preparing documents explaining policies, how-to’s and where to find the necessary information. The Education Foundation is an office of one, so Sandy has memorized the processes and policies through her years at the college. For the start of the project, Sandy gave me an Excel sheet with descriptions based on monthly tasks that she completes. However, we quickly learned that I had many questions, so deeper answers were needed for the person taking over her position. What is a project without questions? Work would not be done if the questions were already answered. Sandy answered every question, including my additional inquiries, as we spoke more about her position.

Another part of the project is assisting Sandy in preparing for the largest fundraiser for the Education Foundation, the 53rd Annual Central Penn Golf Open. This tournament is held to raise funds for student scholarships and typically has around 30 teams. We had to prepare the signs for the raffle baskets, golfer gifts and discuss the changes due to the weather. After dealing with a postponement because of the remnants of a hurricane, we held the tournament on Aug. 29.
The tournament itself was a magical day. To have the opportunity to plan and then fully execute that plan along the way was immensely gratifying. Because of all of the hard work we put in behind the scenes, everything ran smoothly. I was able to get some tremendous photos of the players and helped to raise a significant amount of money for the foundation myself as part of the process.
This day taught me to slow down and enjoy the little moments in my career. I am not sure if Sandy is aware of just how much being a part of this day allowed me to learn about networking, fundraising and event planning. Even more, through this process, I gained not only a mentor but a life-long friend.
The event was important to me because I have been awarded many scholarships, and I want others to have similar support. For example, during the middle of the scholarship application timeline, I walked around campus promoting the scholarship and explaining its purpose. Many people do not realize that it is about you and your journey. The scholarship process taught me that as long as you do everything following your heart and passion, then the rest will fall in line.
For today’s readers, this journey speaks to the value of pursuing passions and respecting the stories told by others. As you climb the mountains of life, remember at the top or at the bottom, it is who you are that matters.
Breski served as president of The Knightly News Media Club @ Central Penn College from the summer 2022 term and as one of the club’s photographers, in addition to being a reporter for this blog.
This was her final article as a student at Central Penn. She graduated at the end of the summer term with a degree in corporate communications. We greatly appreciate her service over the last two years and wish her nothing but the best in the future.
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about Central Penn College students participating in philanthropic initiatives in the region as part of the COM420 Projects in Corporate Communication course during the summer term.