Tree buds blossom green and clusters of daffodils dapple the hillside in yellow — the fine touches of spring add to South Mountain’s grandeur. That uplifting seasonal energy was made more vibrant as it corresponded to an annual event that celebrates the impact of Lehigh experience.
The Scholarship Celebration unites scholarship recipients with their donors. The 2026 celebration raised spirits as students, alumni, leadership, parents, and families gathered to mingle, converse, share a meal, build connections, and hear the moving stories from a student panel whose lives have changed because of their time at Lehigh.
Carol Packard, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, welcomed guests, asking them to take the time to share stories and learn from one another because “at its core, philanthropy is not simply about giving but also about building relationships that sustain and move this university forward.”
“The night brings together two groups whose stories are deeply intertwined: the students who are shaping the future and the alumni and friends whose generosity helps make their journeys possible.”
GO Beyond, The Campaign for Future Makers, has raised more than $1.06 billion toward its $1.25 billion goal. Within that total, $314 million has been dedicated to scholarships and financial aid, creating 389 new endowed scholarships.
Packard thanked the audience for its incredible generosity and reminded them that their belief in Lehigh and its students does more than provide financial support. She said, “It removes barriers and creates possibilities, ensuring talented students can choose Lehigh, expand their access to opportunity and open doors to discovery.”
President Joseph J. Helble ’82 discussed the vision for Lehigh, as outlined in Inspiring the Future Makers, the strategy that was launched three years ago.
“We want Lehigh to be the place where faculty and students feel empowered to explore bold ideas and push the boundaries of knowledge,” he said. “Across undergraduate and graduate education, the goal is the same: to prepare students to apply knowledge creatively and responsibly in a world where complex problems rarely fit within traditional boundaries.”
The students Helble welcomed to the stage for the evening’s panel illustrated that vision.
Dontae Hoose ’26, Nancy Henry-Naiho ’27, and Sophie Mallek ’28 outlined their extraordinary journey to Lehigh, the range of classes and activities that define their Lehigh experience, and the mentors making a mark on their journeys.
Hoose, a varsity wrestler and mechanical engineer from Western New York, described the balance it takes to fit everything into his days at Lehigh. Still, he found time to co-found a rocketry club, design rockets, and compete. The club will launch its level three rocket, Talon, at the International Rocketry Engineering Competition this spring.
Henry-Naiho, a driven entrepreneur from Nigeria, heard about the entrepreneurial opportunities at Lehigh through a classmate at her high school in South Africa. She has worked at the Baker Institute, presented ideas at five Eureka pitch competitions where each idea earned funding, and then received the People's Choice Award for her venture at the Innovate! Celebrate! dinner.
From Tennessee, Mallek sought Lehigh for its United Nations partnership and Iacocca Internship. In her sophomore year, she presented to the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. She also co-founded the Women's Strength Society, a club dedicated to exercise, strength training, and mental health of women. She plans to travel to Uganda this summer.
The students talked about their hardest classes, their preparation in the world, and their bucket-list items — things to complete before they depart South Mountain.
Helble reminded the audience of his days at Lehigh that were made possible by financial aid, loans, summer jobs, and a variety of paid roles on campus. It shaped his student days and defined his outlook as a university leader.
“Today, we strive to ensure that students not only have access to Lehigh, but also the ability to participate fully in everything this university offers, including study abroad and internships,” he said. “The students here tonight represent the very best of Lehigh. The hard work, creativity, and leadership that make this university extraordinary. In classrooms, labs, studios, athletic arenas, and communities, they define what it means to be future makers.”
He then held up the donors. “To those in the room who've supported our students through scholarships, I say, truly and sincerely, thank you. Your generosity opened doors for students like me. Your generosity opens doors for students whose lives will be changed by the opportunities they find here. That is the power of scholarships. This is the impact that you have created.”
View a full gallery of images from the night.
Scholarships remain a top priority of GO Beyond: The Campaign for Future Makers. Learn more about how to impact the lives of students through a scholarship.
Or support Lean Into Lehigh, a matching gift campaign, running from April 20 through June 22, 2026, that will support scholarships and financial aid with a dollar-for-dollar match for every gift, up to $250,000.
