Osher Success Stories
USF University College is proud to showcase the following Osher success stories. The first of three $50,000 annual scholarship awards was granted to USF by the Bernard Osher Foundation in 2008. Since the Osher Reentry Scholarship's inception at USF, we have awarded 58 scholarships and to date 11 scholarship recipients have graduated from USF. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to adult learners, ideally between 25 and 50, who have experienced an interruption in their education of five or more years and who now want to complete their first undergraduate degree. Between 2010 and 2011, USF had close to 20,000 undergraduate students between the ages of 25 and 50. The scholarship is part of USF's ongoing commitment to non-traditional adult students.
Elizabeth Ciesla
Osher Scholar 2009/2010
USF graduate Fall 2010
Major: Geography
"The Osher Reentry Scholarship has impacted me in a big way. I still have a lot of school loans to pay off but this scholarship helped me to survive while I was in school. With the heavy work load of a full-time college education, working on the side becomes a difficult task. Osher gave me the chance to attend college full-time without having to work full-time. It also made me feel like I finally fit into some part of life because so many scholarships I would try to apply for always had stipulations that didn't fit my situation. Osher was the perfect scholarship for me because I was older, had been away from college in the professional world for several years, and had a strong desire to succeed. I am so thankful for this scholarship and now I have a degree to be proud of for a lifetime. Osher has essentially provided me with a lifetime gift."
Loretta Ortiz
Osher Scholar 2010/2011
Major: Elementary Education
"This scholarship has been a lifesaver. Many of the scholarships out there have specific requirements such as "Freshman" or "Organization Affiliated" or something else. The Osher scholarship provided a mom returning back to school after 16 years an opportunity to get back into the swing of things in the college world. Non-traditional students do not have the time as many traditional students to get involved as much as they would like to in their schools, though some of us try. Especially since some may have to work and have families to care for. It is a never ending balancing act."
Jenifer Altman
Osher Scholar 2010/2011
Major: Business
"This is my first semester as a college student back at USF and as an Osher student, the experience has been beneficial. The scholarship meetings give you a chance to network and meet new people who are in a like situation. If Osher was not able to provide funds or help to older students, I may not be able to attend school and provide my experience to the younger college generation."
Matthew Dodd
Osher Scholar 2009/2010
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
On Saturday, December 12, 2009, Matthew Dodd attended the Tampa Commencement held in the USF Sun Dome. Matt, who had an eight-year gap in his undergraduate studies, received his degree in Environmental Science and Policy. "I think for people who drop out of college, on of the hardest things they'll ever do is come back." Matt said. "But that's what makes it so valuable. It'll make your life so fulfilling because you'll be doing something you really care about."
Sherri Rodriguez
Osher Scholar 2009/2010
Major: Psychology
USF Polytechnic held its commencement ceremony at the Lakeland Center on Monday, December 14, 2009. Among the graduating students in the processional was Osher Scholarship recipient Sherri Rodriguez. The psychology major recalls what her return to the classroom was like: "Even though the younger students are working and have as many credit hours as I do, their jobs are not as stressful. I own my own business. If I fail, it fails. I'm running a family, I'm running a business, and I'm running my education."