ADVANCING THE MISSION
Grateful Giving
Ebony Harmon Hypolite ’06
Though I have been out of school and in the workforce
for over a decade, my heart still beats strongly for my
alma mater, and I’ve made it a point to stay connected
with Stevenson through the giving of my time and my
resources. When I was presented with the opportunity
to create and fund a Stevenson scholarship in my name
three years ago, there was no hesitation from me. I
enthusiastically said, “Sign me up!” It’s true—I was
excited about giving money!
To understand my enthusiasm for giving and supporting
education, you must know a little about me and how this
foundation was established in me through my family
line. When learning about my lineage, I discovered
that my great-great-grandfather was an educator in the
Hypolite (right) with scholarship recipient Rachael Steelman ’17 (left).
Alabama school system for nearly half a century. This was
a happy discovery, especially considering that his mother,
my great-great-great-grandmother, had been enslaved
and didn’t have many of the basic human rights we may for my fees, books, room and board without stress. When
take for granted—including the opportunity to read and I graduated from Stevenson, my parents had zero debt
write. My great-great-grandfather had a daughter, my associated with my college years and that’s exactly how I
great-grandmother, who was also an educator. And her wanted it. I also was able to enter the workforce with very
daughter, my great-aunt, was an educator. I attended my manageable student loan payments.
great-aunt’s kindergarten for two years and attribute my I am and will forever be grateful to all of the donors who
love for learning to her. So I come from a great line of generously gave to Stevenson University so that I could
educators, and although my parents are not educators receive a scholarship that would grant my parents and
by trade, they were my personal teachers and a huge me peace of mind. I am a living, breathing, embodiment
objective for them was to make sure I went to college. of the hope that has been passed down to me through
They were unable to establish a college fund for me, my ancestral line starting with my great-great-great-
but with their will being strong and unyielding, the way grandmother, Emily. I hope that the SU community will
would eventually present itself. always be grateful givers—thankful to those who give to
When Stevenson University offered me a 4-year full us and honored to give forward to others. I hope that
tuition scholarship, it was such a blessing and a weight the recipients of my scholarship will be grateful givers
off our shoulders. With the financial support of my and one day give back to this amazing university that
parents and some small student loans, I was able to pay nurtured them, and continue the line of giving.
Ebony Harmon Hypolite, CPA, is a senior manager with SC&H Group’s Business Performance Management
consulting practice, and a member of Stevenson University’s President’s Advisory Council. She is one of four leaders
recently named to the Maryland Association of CPAs 2018 “Women to Watch.”
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VENTURES/WINTER 2018-19