Shea Daubney, ‘22

Sitting at her desk at a local pool supply store on an especially hot August day in 2018, Shea Daubney was miserable. She had been the forewoman of a crew installing in-ground pool liners and was at a desk job for the first time. She realized this was not what she wanted for her life, so she decided to return to college. Shea re-enrolled at Niagara Country Community College, where she had attended in 2009-10. This time, she embraced college and achieved a 4.0 each semester. Fast forward to fall 2020: Shea is a 30 year old full time Forensics/CSI major at Hilbert and a member of the Honors Program. As a transfer student from NCCC, she applied only to Hilbert. “This is my school. I love Hilbert.” She especially enjoys the psychology aspect of what she is studying and appreciates learning from faculty who have experience in the field. In addition to her full academic course load and part time job, Shea is involved in SGA and serves as the Commuter Representative. Scholarship support is helping Shea thrive as a Hilbert student. “I am grateful for the financial assistance I have received at Hilbert and will do whatever it takes to graduate and give back when I can.”

Carl Zarcone, '22

Since he was a young child, Carl Zarcone knew he wanted to be an attorney. This meant working hard and always keeping focused on his goal. Carl, a Hilbert junior majoring in Paralegal Studies, took advantage of many career-related opportunities outside of school. He was accepted into Legal Academy, an elite program which connected him to internships at Erie County Family Court and the Niagara Falls Police Department, among others. For Carl, Hilbert has been the perfect choice. Receiving a scholarship has made it possible for him to fully participate in Hilbert life, on the Hilbert Men’s Soccer Team in service learning projects. Many Hilbert students have lost their part time jobs since COVID began, suddenly increasing the need for additional financial aid. Carl’s only income, his job at Regal Cinemas, disappeared overnight. He is especially grateful for the scholarship he has received. “This scholarship has changed everything for me, and offers me the chance to continue my education at the highest level and to continue pursuing my ultimate goal.”

Zachary Miller, ‘23

For Zachary Miller, a sophomore Paralegal Studies major from North Tonawanda, focusing on the future has often meant looking to the past. He has witnessed the life and career of his grandfather, an attorney whose generosity and community service Zachary endeavors to emulate. In explaining why he wishes to be a lawyer, he notes “the pivotal role of law and justice in society” and quotes Aristotle, “At his best, man is the nobles of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.” He is also inspired by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, all who studied law and went on to serve the public.

At Hilbert, Zachary plays on the Men’s Basketball team and represents them on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. He has participated in community service projects and plans to do more when we are able to travel off campus for events. Receiving financial support from Hilbert helps ease the burden on Zachary and his family, and will allow him to continue his education beyond Hilbert and toward his goal of attending law school. “I am very grateful for the scholarship I have received and thank all of the generous donors to Hilbert.”

Lynn Adams-Gilden, ‘22

For many students, the path to and through college is not a direct or traditional one. For Lynn Adams-Gilden, a junior at Hilbert, returning to school after getting married and having children has represented much more than a desire to complete her degree. In choosing to attend Hilbert full time, she and her husband made a decision to live on his income alone – not easy for a family of four. Their two daughters are nine and five. With a four-year degree, Lynn knows she will better support her family and make her children proud. “I want my children to look up to me as a mother who never stopped fighting to give them something better.”

As a survivor of childhood trauma, Lynn gravitated toward a major in Human Services and the goal of becoming an advocate for domestic and sexual abuse survivors. Lynn credits scholarship support with allowing her to focus on academics and to think ahead to her dream of helping others. “Survivors need a voice; especially one who can understand them in ways others cannot. Choosing to fight and survive is the greatest success of all.”

Jennifer Graber

As a mom with a full-time job, Jennifer Graber needed flexibility. “I chose Hilbert specifically because of all the amazing things I heard about it, and then finding out I could complete my four-year degree online made everything better.” Hilbert College Global (HCG) was a perfect fit, Jennifer is able to be there with her kids, work full-time and complete her course work. She devotes her nights when her boys are asleep and Sundays when her mom comes over to hang out with them to focus on her schoolwork.

HCG is making it possible for Jennifer to achieve her career goals of becoming a forensics and arson investigator by allowing her to gain both her bachelors and masters degrees online while working to support her family. But being an online student doesn’t mean she’s without support academically. She explains, “Statistics has been a struggle because it is pretty much all new material to me; my professor reached out and called me to walk me through navigating the software, sent me step by step instructions on how to use different elements and even offered to help me go through the material I was struggling with.”

How will you amplify the good?

Leaderboard

Student Stories

Amber Stuck

Shea Daubney, ‘22

Carl Zarcone, '22

Zachary Miller, ‘23

Lynn Adams-Gilden, ‘22

Jennifer Graber

Jon Evans

Amber Stuck

Shea Daubney, ‘22

Carl Zarcone, '22

Zachary Miller, ‘23

Lynn Adams-Gilden, ‘22

Jennifer Graber

Jon Evans

Amber Stuck

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