Nontraditional Student Finds a New Path in Life
Tri-State and Trine University launched Julie Kerins (formerly Wert) on a new career path, and she hopes her estate gift to the University will help other young women looking for direction.
Bored in her job as a paralegal, Julie applied for a housekeeping position at Tri-State to be closer to her family's lake home. After looking over her application, the human resources director had something else in mind.
"I knew nothing about development, but they needed an administrative assistant in that department," Julie recalls.
Bob Remington, vice president for university development, encouraged Julie to go to The Lilly School of Philanthropy and take the basic overview course and, subsequently, to earn her certificate in fundraising management. She also began working on finishing her bachelor's degree from Tri-State, and, as she completed it, worked her way up from administrative assistant to office manager and eventually director of the annual fund and regional events.
Though she wasn't a traditional student, she still got involved on campus by coaching the cheerleading and dance teams and assisting them with their fundraisers.
"I still am friends with that group of girls," she says.
Eventually she received a call about a major gifts position at Kalamazoo College and transitioned there. Today she serves as senior associate director of development, and remains very thankful for the start she got at Trine.
While she is not at a point in her life where she can make a major financial gift, she decided to support Trine through the biggest potential gift possible, adding a provision to her 401(k) that names the University as a benefactor.
"It's really the best way for me to make a significant gift to the University and pay back what I received," she says.
Like Julie, you can show your gratitude for receiving a quality education and help future students with a gift in your estate plan. To learn more, contact the Office of Alumni & Development at 269.300.9811 or alumni@trine.edu.