A Letter from the Interim President

Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue a college education, empowered by the promise of possibility while not limited by financial constraints. Therefore, at Washington Adventist University, we believe higher education is one of the most powerful investments that can be made in the future of individuals, communities, and society. As a Christ-centered institution, we are committed to developing graduates who lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make meaningful contributions in their professions and communities around the world.

For many promising students, however, the dream of earning a university degree is threatened by financial hardship. Scholarships do more than reduce tuition costs, they remove barriers, alleviate financial stress, improve student success, and create opportunities that can change the trajectory of a life. Your partnership makes that possible.

By supporting the Washington Adventist University Needs Grant Scholarship Fund, you are investing in students whose determination, talent, and potential deserve every opportunity to succeed. Your generosity enables students to remain focused on their education, graduate on time, and enter the workforce prepared to lead with excellence, purpose, and service.

This year’s 13th annual Visionaries Gala theme, Beyond the Gateway, reflects our commitment to helping students move beyond opportunity into lives of meaningful impact. Throughout the evening, you will hear firsthand how scholarship support has transformed lives and opened doors that once seemed out of reach. These stories are a testament to what is possible when compassionate partners invest in the next generation.

Within this sponsorship package, you will find several opportunities to make a lasting difference. Whether through scholarship support, strategic institutional initiatives, or campus enhancements that strengthen the student experience, every gift directly advances our mission and expands educational access for deserving students.

At Washington Adventist University, faith inspires our mission, service defines our purpose, and education transforms lives. We invite you to join us in creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, opportunities that prepare graduates to become competent moral leaders, compassionate professionals, and positive forces for good in their communities.

For those who, in previous years, have given in support of GALA priorities – please accept our deepest appreciation. Looking ahead, we now invite you to seize tonight’s opportunity to invest your fiscal donations in the lives of WAU students who will enrich our world, “Beyond the Gateway” as agents of positive transformation who will bring JOY to our world.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to invest in the future. Together, we can ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a student’s God-given potential.

Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, PhD, MSN, NP, RN
Interim President