 Shannon and I became friends our first year at Colgate. We were roommates for the following three years. After Colgate, Shannon moved to San Francisco. I stayed on the East Coast. For 25 years we have called each other and talked while driving children to school or from our offices or while folding laundry. We have visited every opportunity we’ve had. We have stood up for each other at weddings, shared our children’s baptismal dress, sent Christmas packages, taken our families camping, and even helped each other through knee buckling crises. We are family. Colgate is our home. I grew up in Buffalo, just four hours away from Colgate University. All four of my grandparents had earned college degrees. My college fund was begun in my first year of life. Before my senior year, even as a fourth child in my family, my parents took me on an endless six day road trip to see a variety of schools. You can go anywhere you get in was what I heard often on that trip. Shannon grew up across the country in Southern California. She was the first in her family to head off to college. There was no college fund. Shannon was the high school super star. Many of her fellow classmates never dreamed of college. Her high school sent one student--Shannon--east to pursue a college degree. She packed her bags and flew across the country with no idea of what awaited: long, dark winters, demanding classes, lots of classmates who were also high school superstars, and most overwhelming, tuition payments. College is a blessedly awkward and liberating time of transition from childhood to semi-adulthood. My first year at Colgate was filled with beautiful challenges. There were days I felt overwhelmed and homesick for sure, but I discovered how ready I was for the next chapter of my life. Colgate helped me become. And my parents happily footed the bill. Shannon’s adjustment practically (how do you dress for winter?), socially (these east coasters are different), academically (I’ve never written a research paper in my life) and emotionally (how do I manage a relationship with recently divorced parents), were monumental to say the least. And amazingly, still, Shannon thrived. She faced these adjustments with fierce determination and confidence. Colgate helped Shannon become her best self. But there was one thing out of Shannon’s control: tuition payments. Every semester would begin with Shannon at the registrar's office discovering once again why she was not registered for class. Her tuition bill was yet again unpaid. What would follow was a painful phone call asking a parent to pay the small remainder of her account. Shannon took a great deal of responsibility for her own tuition through scholarships, work-study, and loans. The registrar would assure Shannon she could begin her classes, even though she was not “officially registered.” She would usually find her way to the financial aid office in tears. Every year, Shannon doggedly took on more financial responsibility for her own future.  Just this week, Shannon honored me at our 25th Colgate Reunion in front of our entire class. She has personally endowed a scholarship in my name. The Abigail A. Henrich Scholarship is to be used entirely for students with demonstrated financial need.
The irony and beauty of this scholarship is not lost on me. I have been unable to think of little else these past few days as I have processed this monumental honor. Shannon’s scholarship celebrates everything about our friendship. The very presentation of this scholarship at our class dinner celebrated the story of our becoming at Colgate, where our lives permanently wove together. Yet how am I, the one whose tuition was fully funded by my family, to have my name on this scholarship? I never paid a student loan in my life. I never worried about how much money I would make as a pastor because I had no debt to speak of. It seems the scholarship should be named The Abby and Shannon Friendship Scholarship, or the Registrar's Office Scholarship since they always lovingly found a way to help Shannon each semester, or the Thank God for Savvy Financial Aid Officers scholarship. Why should it be named for me? I have no answer to this question. Shannon would answer it is because my friendship set her forth on her path, but I am certain that our friendship existed because of the environment--Colgate--in which it was rooted. Colgate is a powerfully transformative place. My Colgate liberal arts education is my most prized possession. My friendship with Shannon is forever life-giving. For now, I will set aside my question and my shock that there is a scholarship in my name, and instead rest in deep thanksgiving. Thank you Colgate. Thank you Shannon.
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