Photo page header

Home

Getting Back Home

Masons support scholarships to strengthen local communities

Danica Plante

From The Ichabod - Spring 2018

Danica Plante grew up in Plainville, Kansas, located north of Hays in Rooks County.

“Usually when you grow up in Plainville, you don’t leave,” she said. “People grow up in the oil fields, and most of the men stay there to work. Most of the women either stay around town or neighboring towns to do various jobs.”

However, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care since she excelled in math and science.

Like other Plainville natives, she loves her hometown, especially its family-oriented feel. Family is a top priority as she grew up in a household with her twin sister and three older brothers and drives 438 miles roundtrip to see her family twice a month.

Plante, a senior respiratory therapy major, made the decision to attend Washburn University because she received a scholarship and likes the campus.

“I absolutely love Washburn, it’s very close knit just like Plainville and it’s absolutely beautiful. I like how it takes five minutes to walk across campus, and it is not separated by city blocks.”

She knows firsthand how important scholarships are to furthering her education – and to getting herself back to Plainville. Her initial scholarship paid for almost the entire first year of college.

This year, Plante is also a recipient of a scholarship from the Kansas Masonic Foundation, Inc., which over the years has steadily increased the number of scholarships it gives to Washburn students.

“It is with great pleasure we, as Masons, are able to provide this type of financial support to our future leaders,” said Rick Reichert, president of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. “Our commitment to the scholarship program – and to the numerous other programs that benefit Kansans and Kansas communities through the Masonic Lodges across the state – is at the core of our belief that charity beyond ourselves strengthens our community.”

For the 2018-19 academic year, 27 Washburn students will receive Masonic scholarships ranging from $500 - $5,000.

“I think scholarships are very important, and I know there are a lot of students without that opportunity,” Plante said. “Even just a few hundred dollars a semester impacts all of us, and so I definitely appreciate the scholarships and what they are able to do for students.”

Winter 2024 The Ichabod magazine cover with picture of the bell tower and snow fallen on campus

The Ichabod tells our story with features on alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends, along with the latest campus news. View the current and past editions

 

The Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center

WHY JOIN the Washburn University ALUMNI ASSOCIATION?

  • Engage with alumni through free or discounted events like After Hours, tailgates and Wake Up With Washburn.
  • Take advantage of hundreds of discounts to local and national businesses.
  • Support the Alumni Association scholarship fund with your dues.
  • Travel around the globe on our popular trips offered three times a year. These trips often sell out and are only available for members.

Join now

 

Please enter your username and password below. If you do not have a username and password, click "New user registration" to register.

Login
New user registration
Forgotten password

1729 MacVicar Avenue
Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785.670.4483
Email: contactus@wualumni.org