Scholarships make college possible for SMILE grad
Ask Troy Gzik what scholarships mean to him, and the OSU sophomore is matter of fact. "My parents don't make much money," he said. "Without scholarships, I simply wouldn't be here."
Then ask Troy's high school science teacher what it would mean for someone like this pre-chemical engineering major not to go to college, and the answer is equally frank.
"It would have been a crime to society," said Ken Dickey, who teaches at Nyssa High School on Oregon's eastern border. "I just can't imagine a student like Troy not going to college, he's so incredibly bright. He has so much to contribute."
A recipient of the Beck SMILE Scholarship, Troy is a great example of why OSU has launched a special initiative on scholarships this year. Its aim: to reach the $100 million scholarship goal of The Campaign for OSU.
Like many students from the small farming town of Nyssa, Troy's path to college was paved by OSU's Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences Program, otherwise known as SMILE. The afterschool club is recognized as a national model for its success in getting more economically disadvantaged students and those from underrepresented populations to pursue college degrees.
"SMILE was always a lot of fun — I loved every part of it," said Troy, who participated in the program from fourth to 12th grade. The Gziks are a SMILE family: all six kids have taken part in the program, and two of Troy's older siblings were able to come to OSU because of SMILE scholarships.
Last May Troy volunteered as a counselor at SMILE's Outdoor Adventure Camp for fourth and fifth graders. "These kids look up to us in every way, and they just have such a great time," he said. "When it's over, they really don't want to leave."
While Troy likes the idea of creating a scholarship himself someday — "I'd like to help someone who grew up like I did" — giving back isn't why he became a SMILE counselor. The plain truth: "It's so much fun!"
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