Celebration of Scholarship Event Highlights Transformative Impact on Students

Photographed at the Celebration of Scholarship event, from left to right: Drexel University Interim President Denis O’Brien; Dorine Adechokan, finance ’25; Ahmad Curtis, second-year finance student; and Zuleyha Kumas, finance and business law ’25. Photo credit: Kelsey McKee.

Receiving the LeRoy Brandt Scholarship has been life-changing for me. It allowed me to fund my study abroad experience and alleviate some of my financial burdens, because I was able to work fewer hours to pay for tuition and therefore prioritize my education. Studying abroad is my biggest accomplishment as it pushed me out of my comfort zone and further proved my independence. I believe in the importance of travel and will always remember being able to study in Rome because of the financial assistance of the scholarships I have received. Because of this generosity, I’ve been able to focus on my academic and professional growth, preparing myself for the next steps in my journey —earning my master's in political science and then hopefully attending law school.

That’s what Zuleyha Kumas, a Drexel University student, said to a room full of local donors, University leaders and other student scholarship recipients at the 2025 Celebration of Scholarship event held on April 10. The graduating finance and business law student from the Bennett S. LeBow College of Business also shared her background as a first-generation student and spoke about the three co-ops she completed during her time at Drexel. She had received the scholarship, which honors Leroy Brandt, a 1941 alumnus named to the University’s all-time great roster for men’s lacrosse and is awarded to American undergraduate students enrolled in the college with good academic standing 

“I am glad my extended family is able to carry on the memory of my uncle, Leroy Brandt, who graduated from Drexel and was the first in his family to receive a college education,” said Tom Knoche, who met Kumas at the Celebration of Scholarship event. “The fund in his name targets students who are in the first generation of their families to receive a college degree. Their success at Drexel affirms the value of investing in the opportunity for students to start a tradition of higher education. Zuleyha is a prime example.”

Every year, the University awards a variety of donor-funded scholarships to students like Kumas to help them work toward their academic, professional and personal goals. In the last academic year, Drexel awarded more than $15 million in named scholarships to over 3,500 students. 

At the annual Celebration of Scholarship event, those student recipients and scholarship supporters came together during a night of recognition and networking. University leaders including Interim President Denis O’Brien and members of Drexel’s Board of Trustees also attended the event.

In addition to Kumas, two other scholarship recipients — Dorine Adechokan, finance ’25, and Ahmad Curtis, finance ’28 — spoke about the student organizations, co-ops, study abroad experiences and other opportunities they were able to pursue after certain financial barriers and burdens were removed. They also shared how the financial support will help them with post-graduation opportunities, including graduate school at Drexel.

Above all, they reiterated their drive to make the most of their Drexel experience — both for themselves and for others. 

More pictures from the event can be found in this Flickr gallery.