Mount St. Joseph University successfully hosted its To New Heights Scholarship Benefit to fund the dreams of deserving students.
A highly-anticipated and elegant evening hosted by President H. James Williams, Ph.D., and First Lady Carole Williams, the event officially marked the start of Homecoming weekend and served as a critical, mission-driven celebration of student success.
The heart of the evening was an opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to hear firsthand how student scholarships transform lives at the Mount, while meeting current Mission Ambassadors and Scholarship Recipients. The entire reception was designed to inspire pride, gratitude, and giving, connecting the spirit of Homecoming directly with the University’s core mission of accessibility through scholarships.
A special word of thanks goes to our student speakers – Julia Pfiester, Olena Holub, Ginger Johnson, Savannah Coomer, Caterina Kessler, and Luke Paff, who shared their compelling personal scholarship journeys with grace and courage, inspiring all of us to continue lifting others through education.
Proceeding the event, the community's generosity powered a record-breaking effort: $168,321 was raised from 123 donors, far exceeding the original fundraising goal of $50,000.
"This year, the “To New Heights Scholarship Benefit” delivered a tremendous victory for student accessibility," said Dr. Williams. "The sheer generosity demonstrated by every sponsor, donor, and guest directly funds the scholarships that empower Mount students. We are incredibly grateful for this mission-aligned celebration, which generates the momentum needed to help deserving students Reach New Heights.”
The event's success was bolstered by sponsorships across four tiered levels, general admission proceeds, a raffle, and donations. Donations levels covered essential items like textbooks, hands-on experiences, state-of-the-art infrastructure, innovative programs, and more to serve student success.
MSJ Homecoming 2025
The next day, the day culminated in a convincing Homecoming Football victory, with a final score of MSJ 52 – Franklin 21!
• Jaxon Schreiber threw for 377 yards and 7 touchdowns.
• Eli Aston hauled in 6 receptions for 174 yards and 4 touchdowns.
• Luke Paff, Brady Blevins, and Zion James, each, recorded an interception.
- See this short highlight video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQPuZ2WkfMF/.
Invest in the Next Generation of Lions
You don’t have to wait until next year's event to make a difference, you can help another deserving student ignite their educational journey by contributing to the MSJ Scholarship Fund. Visit our page here to contribute to the MSJ Scholarship Fund and build the next generation of Mount leaders!