Inspiration for Hope & Change
LeArthur Dunlap's kind heart, keen intellect and active curiosity took him from the first class of Black sailors trained during World War II to a 31-year government career in which he served alongside heads of state.
Heide Groomes, alongside her family, established the LeArthur Dunlap Scholarship for African American & Veteran Students — recognizing her father, whose story lives on in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. A 1943 protest staged by Lee secured living quarters for Black sailors, and it led to the integration of the hangar's mess hall.
"I know that my father would be so proud and happy to see a scholarship in his name helping the next generation of promising students achieve their dreams."
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The Serendipity of Finding Roosevelt
For 2010 English graduate Jessica Guazzini, ending up at Roosevelt seems like a touch of serendipity.
"Having Roosevelt's history behind you can only help shape you going forward," she says of Roosevelt's social-justice mission.
In Spring 2022, six students will be recognized as the inaugural winners of the Guazzini Student Leadership & Engagement Awards, recently established by Jessica and her husband Paolo.
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Encouraging Careers in the Public Sector
First-generation college student Le Roy "Lee" R. Baur (MPA '72) believes in the power of education, both formal and informal.
To pay tribute to his devoted parents, Lee and his family established the Baur Family Endowed Scholarship in Public Administration to provide financial support to and encourage the success of students pursuing careers in the public sector.
"Through hard work and education, I was able to have a successful career and provide a good living for my family ... I hope to give that same chance to a new generation of Roosevelt students."
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Mansfield Fellowship Helps Students Develop Tools for Activism
The long-term effects of our simple, ordinary daily actions can significantly improve society, said sophomore Mia Moore. Through the Mansfield Fellowship for Activism and Community Engagement, 15 students spent summer of 2021 in communities across Chicagoland learning new ways to effect social change.
For senior Caitlynn Liquigan, the program made possible by the Albert & Anne Mansfield Foundation taught her about her ability to inspire and empower others.
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Bethany Barratt, professor of political science (left)
Ray Siegel and his late-wife Trisha (right)
A Chance Meeting
So much of life turns on a dime. For Raymond Siegel, meeting political science professor Bethany Barratt was one of those moments — when he signed up for Bethany's Environmental Justice course in summer 2019.
In June 2021, Ray established the Bethany Barratt Award in Social Justice Issues, honoring Bethany's passion for teaching and social justice.
"The award Ray has established in Bethany's name is a reminder of the important role professors play in their students' lives, as well as the social justice and democratic values at the core of a Roosevelt education," said Dean Cami McBride.
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A Young Life Well Lived at the Intersection of Music & Social Justice
Some people's lives seem to transcend time and place: They see the world in its entirety — its sorrows, its joys, its inequities ... and its possibilities. Ella Major was one of those people.
Ella's passion for LGBTQ+ rights and the Black Lives Matter movement came to the fore in summer 2020 during the protests near her home, which is just blocks from where George Floyd was killed. Ella's mother, Kris, said, "She was very aware of the strong inequalities in the U.S. and around the world. And she also recognized her privilege. She wanted to use her education and musical ability to change the world for the better."
The Ella Major Award in Music & Social Justice, established by family and friends, honors Ella's life and her belief that a better world lies at the intersection of music and social justice.
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