How Philanthropy Has Guided One Senior’s McDaniel Experience

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Nicki James ’26 at the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon
(l-r) Trustee Bruce Preston ’75, Nicki James ’26, Danielle Carter ’25, Dimitri Raush-Gernet ’27, President Julia Jasken. 

At just 21 years old, Nicki James ’26 has a resume that would rival many mid-career professionals when it comes to community involvement, both here on the Hill and in Westminster and Carroll County as a whole.

“Community engagement is important to me because I believe people are stronger together,” James says. “When we actively participate in our communities, from the Hill to Carroll County, we create meaningful connections that foster belonging and improve everyone’s quality of life.”

The senior who will complete her degree in Social Work in May says that there’s something special about knowing you belong somewhere and that others are invested in your success. Read more about her journey in her own words.

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN HERE AT McDANIEL?

Dorsey Scholar, President’s Advisory Council of Students, Honors Program, Student Government Association, Maryland Student Legislature, Honor and Conduct Board, the Center for Experience and Opportunity’s International Programs/Study Abroad, Trumpeters, Admissions Student Ambassador, McDaniel Women’s Leadership Network, Barbell Club, and Readers’ Roundtable.

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE?

Rudolph Girls independent bookstore, Carroll County Democrats, The Arc of Carroll County, Carroll County Women’s Leadership Conference, Carroll County Arts Council, and Equal Justice Initiative.

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY BELONGING HERE ON THE HILL?

It sounds funny to answer a question about community by saying that I found community in showing up alone, but I did. I made it a point to get involved in as many things as I possibly could — even if it meant showing up by myself. And that’s where the best part happened. By showing up alone, I met people, tried new things, and found myself in a community based on genuine interest, curiosity, and connection. McDaniel’s size makes it the perfect environment to build multiple communities. In a lot of larger schools, community is formed within academic departments and majors. On the Hill, you definitely form a community within your major, but most professors and staff know students by name, even if they’re not in their department or major. Whether it’s in the new Learning Commons or at an event like Out of Darkness, McDaniel provides the perfectly sized space for small interactions that can turn into strong relationships.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF THE McDANIEL WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK TO CURRENT McDANIEL STUDENTS?

The greatest benefit of the Women’s Leadership Network is the way it has given me support that is specific to the issues women may experience in leadership roles. For example, at the Women’s Leadership Network event last fall, we gained practical skills for how to deal with imposter syndrome. In the spring, we learned about the importance of prioritizing our own health.

I take every chance I can to thank donors, because their generosity has allowed me to attend McDaniel and have life-changing opportunities before I have even graduated. I love being able to show donors that their gifts matter and change lives, and I hope I can make them proud with taking the opportunities they have made possible for me.“

NICKI JAMES ’26

AS A STUDENT, WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PHILANTHROPY AND DONORS TO THE McDANIEL EXPERIENCE?

I wouldn’t be at McDaniel or have had access to any of the opportunities and experiences I have had in college without the generosity of donors, especially through experiential learning grants. Events like the Scholarship Luncheon, Founders Day Reception, and the 1867 Challenge generate awareness of what’s possible through philanthropy. New things pop up on campus all the time, but when students aren’t aware that donors are the reason we have things like the Learning Commons @ Hoover Library, or a new track, or renovated offices, we take them for granted.

Last semester, I took a Social Work course where we learned about how nonprofit organizations function. We had the opportunity to hear from Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dave Sears, who explained how much work his staff does to fund everything from summer research to the new BSU Clubroom to scholarships to major renovations. That class opened my eyes to the importance of donors and fundraising.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOUR PEERS KNEW ABOUT PHILANTHROPY?

I wish my peers had opportunities to learn about philanthropy from the business side of it, as well as the human side of it, because it would open their eyes. I take every chance I can to thank donors, because their generosity has allowed me to attend McDaniel and have life-changing opportunities before I have even graduated. I love being able to show donors that their gifts matter and change lives, and I hope I can make them proud with taking the opportunities they have made possible for me.

From Refugee to Green Terror for Life

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SANA ASKARI ’26 CREDITS McDANIEL’S ALUMNI WITH UPLIFTING FAMILIES AND GENERATIONS, STARTING WITH HER

Senior Sana Askari’s mother was not allowed to get an education, so each day at McDaniel, she is proud to honor her mother’s sacrifices by pursuing her own education. Askari grew up as a refugee from Afghanistan with few resources, and today, women in her home country lack access to education beyond sixth grade. Without being named a Dorsey Scholar, Askari may not have been able to change her family’s narrative.

Thanks to the financial and personal support of alumni and donors, Askari has found a true sense of belonging and started a new chapter for herself, her siblings, and women back home in Afghanistan. She shares her experiences — and the life-changing influence of McDaniel’s alumni network — in her own words.

HOW HAS PHILANTHROPY MADE YOUR McDANIEL EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE?

I grew up as a refugee with no resources, and today, women in my home country have no access to education beyond sixth grade. If it were not for the generosity of donors, I would not have been able to attend McDaniel and pursue my education. Having witnessed my mother struggle to raise her children as a refugee and seeing other refugee women suffer due to a lack of opportunities, I became determined to change my circumstances and create a path for my younger siblings to pursue education.

What I wish my peers and others better understood is that philanthropy, whether small or large, has the power to change lives. My life is living proof: this scholarship not only transformed my future but also opened doors for my younger sisters to pursue their education. The impact of philanthropy extends beyond individuals; it uplifts families and generations.

ASIDE FROM YOUR MENTORING RELATIONSHIP WITH NUPUR PAREKH FLYNN ’94 DURING THE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE, WHAT OTHER ALUMNI OR DONORS HAVE YOU INTERACTED WITH?

I had the privilege of meeting my scholarship donor, Mary Lynn Durham ’70, who is funding the Dorsey Scholarship. It felt very special to meet the person who is enabling me to get an education, especially during a time when women and girls in my country, Afghanistan, are not only barred from education but also stripped of their basic human rights. Knowing that someone who does not even know me believes in my potential and is supporting my education strengthened my commitment to continue empowering women through my company, Esheel.

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND A SENSE OF BELONGING HERE ON THE HILL?

McDaniel has been my home for the past three years. I arrived on campus with only two suitcases and a dream of pursuing an education. What I have found here is so much more than an education — I have found a true sense of belonging. I am surrounded by a community of people who consistently support me, whether it is staff members like Amanda Gelber or professors who never fail to root for my success. Their encouragement has made me feel seen, valued, and uplifted, and it reminds me every day that I am not alone in this journey.

I had the privilege of meeting my scholarship donor, Mary Lynn Durham ’70, who is funding the Dorsey Scholarship. It felt very special to meet the person who is enabling me to get an education, especially during a time when women and girls in my country, Afghanistan, are not only barred from education but also stripped of their basic human rights.“

SANA ASKARI ’26

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE ALUMNI NETWORK HAD ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT AT McDANIEL SO FAR?

The alumni network has had a tremendous impact on my experience as a McDaniel student. The support I have received extends far beyond what words can fully capture. One special example is my relationship with Alex Ober ’63 and his wife, Jan Engle Ober ’73, who have truly become like family to me. I first met them at an Alumni Association dinner, and from that moment, we developed a meaningful relationship.

Living alone and far from my family, I often face challenges that go beyond academics, such as moving between dorms and summer housing. Alex and Jan have always been there for me — helping me transport my belongings and making sure I never felt alone. Their kindness and generosity are a reflection of the alumni network’s impact, which reaches well beyond professional connections and directly touches students’ lives in deeply personal ways.

WHAT DO YOU ENVISION WHEN YOU THINK OF McDANIEL COLLEGE REACHING NEW HEIGHTS AS AN INSTITUTION?

I envision McDaniel as an institution that continues to change lives and open doors for students like me, enabling them to pursue their dreams and make a meaningful impact in their communities. The opportunities McDaniel has given me have not only transformed my own life but also the lives of my younger siblings and the students I have mentored over the past three years — students who have gone on to create positive change in their communities. This is the kind of far-reaching impact I see McDaniel achieving in the future.