Impact Future Philanthropists
Even though your time as an SIP participant has ended, you are still part of the SIP family. Stay connected with SIP, fellow alumni and current participants by joining our LinkedIn group. We also encourage you to register as an SIP alumnus to connect with us about your SIP experience and ways you can impact current SIP participants.
Even though your time as an SIP participant has ended, you are still part of the SIP family. Stay connected with SIP, fellow alumni and current participants by joining our LinkedIn group. We also encourage you to register as an SIP alumnus to connect with us about your SIP experience and ways you can impact current SIP participants.
Brady Sullivan
SIP gave me my first glimpse of what philanthropy is and how important it is to a community. While at MC, I served as Vice President of Students in Philanthropy during the 2005/2006 school year. In 2006, I traveled with the SIP team, led by Laura McCabe, to Atlanta to accept the William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy. Little did I know at the time that I would later discover that a part of my calling in life would be serving those who have served us in the United States Military. My friend and owner of Game Guard Outdoors, Craig Smith, told me as I was getting involved in the Veteran space, that the sooner in life one learns that everything you have (money, time, talents) belongs to God and that it’s your job to give it all away, the better off you are.
Lauren Disney
My servant’s heart and desire to find my place in this community fostered my eagerness to learn and grow my passion for what makes it so unique. [While at Midland College,] I was introduced to Mrs. Laura McCabe by one of my classmates and she was so helpful whenever I needed extra support. I also joined the SIP program under her excellent leadership and remained in it until I graduated from there in 2009. I was then blessed with a scholarship to continue in the SIP program at UTPB under the leadership of Mrs. Cristy Batte until graduating again in 2011. These outstanding programs are where I first gained so much knowledge about nonprofit organizations, budgeting for expenses, daily operational activities, and especially volunteering. We were also required to interview and do on-site evaluations before choosing the grant winners each year. I have continued my volunteer work with many places in the Permian Basin.
Jacob Edwards
The Students in Philanthropy program immersed me in the Midland-Odessa community and helped me see my hometown in a new light. Through our fundraising and volunteer hours, we met countless people who made helping those in need their life’s work, which in turn inspired me to give more of my time and resources to others. Additionally, the SIP program’s scholarships helped cover the cost of my tuition as I pursued my nursing degree. I hope that when I graduate, I will be able to use this degree to imitate the example of the incredible people I met through the Students in Philanthropy program.
Chris and Jessica Hightower
Upon reflection, Students In Philanthropy was very important for us in our early college years at Midland College. Having a positive group to turn to really helped when we were going through some tough times at home. In fact, it helped us find each other. Students In Philanthropy helped us realize our passion for our community and the people living in it. Our passion has been in educating others so that they have a fighting chance in the world we live in today. This shared passion led us both to careers in education. Overall, we are an example of truly coming full circle with our giving. We have leveraged the skills we learned early on about all the behind the scenes work of nonprofits and grant proposals to aid us in our lives.
Angela Kennedy
My involvement in the Students in Philanthropy (SIP) organization has left a lasting impact on the person and professional that I am today. Specifically, Laura McCabe shared her expertise and passion for the community of Midland while also teaching us the intricacies of the non-profit sector. SIP laid a foundation that I have built my career and continued volunteerism upon. As I find myself in a position where I can share this knowledge and passion with college students, I have embraced the vision of the Abell-Hanger Foundation by attempting to create a community where every person realizes their full potential. This rich and powerful legacy began and has continued in the Permian Basin, but I am proud to spread and continue the good work in South Texas as well.
Kristin Roberson
I joined the Students in Philanthropy program during my senior year of high school with no idea it would eventually impact my future choice of profession and entire view of what philanthropy means to our community and world. Being exposed to the impact of giving as a teenager caused an increased awareness for how much society relies on services provided by these entities. Countless wonderful experiences gained in this program lead to my career in the nonprofit industry and planted a passion for connecting organizations with funding opportunities that can fulfill their needs.