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university fundraising event... which often strikes me as a self-congratulatory echo chamber.
Some may say the generosity exhibited by many donors deserves our sincere appreciation, and that individuals who have endowed charities/universities/non-profits ought to feel a deep sense of satisfaction for "giving back" or "paying it forward". For many students, opportunities may be provided which would otherwise not exist.

It is interesting to see the broad array of scholarships which have been created to offer assistance to students with varied interests and abilities. The personalized nature of many scholarships brings a sense of affirmation to those awarded with such a scholarship. Admissions may be careful to select students who might be awarded scholarships established by donors.