Now, they’re on a Mission to Give Back
Frankie Bastone '15 (left), Olivia Bormann '16, and Andrew Chait '16 (right) all attended Santa Clara University for different reasons. As students, they had different interests and participated in different activities. Yet they all graduated from SCU committed to give back and ultimately joined the Santa Clara Fund team to help support today’s Broncos. Read about their journeys here.
Andrew Chait – Intramurals
Recalling how nervous he was walking down the ninth floor of Swig Hall on move-in day, Andrew Chait ’16 explained, “It was intimidating because I didn’t know anyone. But fast forward a week later and I had met people who would become my best friends throughout college and still today.”
Participating in intramural sports also enabled the Finance major to meet many students that are still among his best friends. When he began working on campus as a student, Chait quickly realized that intramural sports and many other programs that he and other Broncos participate in are supported through the Santa Clara Fund. “I started giving to the Fund as a student because co-curriculars enable students to meet each other, help the community, or just get outside for some friendly competition and break away from the stress of our classes.”
As an SCU graduate, Chait continued to give through the Santa Clara Fund because he knew what an impact these programs had on him and now has on other students. His Bronco experiences were so meaningful, he decided to work full time at Santa Clara to raise support for the University. “I want todays Broncos to have the same opportunities at Santa Clara that I did and that happens through support of the Santa Clara Fund,” he said. “I am so lucky that what I’m doing gives these students a voice and a community that lets them become the best version of themselves.”
Olivia Bormann – Student Programs and Clubs
As an SCU student, Olivia Bormann '16 swam and played water polo on Santa Clara club teams. But she also found another community she connected with in the Multicultural Center through Love Jones, an open mic night put on by students featuring student performances. “I so enjoyed seeing talented Broncos share their artistry with campus,” she said. As the Philosophy major learned more about the Center and deepened her understanding of her identity as a biracial woman of color, she attended more events put on by and in conjunction with the Center.
A scholarship recipient and student worker, Bormann understood the importance of donor support to ensure future students could benefit from programs conducted through the MCC. Passionate about supporting scholarships, LGBTQ+ students, and students of color, she began giving to Santa Clara through the Santa Clara Fund as a student and increased her gifts as a young alum.
“I’m passionate about diversity and inclusion,” she says. “A diverse student body elevates the learning potential for all students. Students benefit from clubs like those through the Multicultural Center and find comfort in people who look like us and have similar life experiences."
Today Bormann continues her support of students in her professional life by her work on the Santa Clara Fund staff. “In my work with students, they see someone who looks like them. Someone who has had similar struggles that they can talk with. I work here for the students and because I am passionate about providing them the best circumstances for success in college and beyond.”
Frankie Bastone – Immersions
One of the best experiences Frankie Bastone '15 had as an undergraduate was an immersion trip to Navajo Nation through the Ignatian Center. These days, his time in Tuba City, AZ is the first thing he talks about when he shares his Santa Clara story. The immersion provided the opportunity to learn about Navajo life and culture, work on community service projects, tutor at a high school, live simply, and explore the natural beauty of the area. “The Navajo people share rich cultural traditions and are well known for their contributions to the world at large,” Bastone explained. “I am thankful to them for their willingness to share with us—strangers—their stories, homes, and lives.”
Bastone appreciates that some immersions are supported through the Santa Clara Fund. “This opportunity expanded my worldview in a meaningful way that reinforced my desire to give back to others in many different ways,” Bastone said. “Immersions challenge us to grow by seeking experiences that draw us out of our comfort zones, and this is how we—as members of the Santa Clara family—can be part of making a more just, humane, and sustainable world.”
Bastone feels extremely blessed to have attended Santa Clara where his education in and out of the classroom focused on the very things he learned on his immersion: social justice, community, spirituality, simplicity, and being a human being for others. “I continuously give through the Santa Clara Fund because this special place grew and became an integral part of who I am and changed the trajectory of my life,” he explained. “Now I’m an employee because I want other students to have the chance to feel at home here through meeting forever friends, taking classes that open their minds to new possibilities and perspectives, and making an impact around the world.”
- Audrey Redmond
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Read about other Santa Clara alumni who support the Santa Clara Fund.