Living Ut Prosim: Students Strengthening Plymouth State Through Service and Support

Student Support Foundation with Carrie and John ‘85 Morgridge in the student-run food pantry.

Where community and belonging thrive, so does support for one another. 

Through student organizations, volunteer opportunities, and campus events, Plymouth State is a place where community is central to life as a student. On another level, the tight bond between classmates extends to a desire to give back philanthropically and support the wider community.

For example, the revival of the senior class gift in 2023 has helped foster that environment of generosity and philanthropy among students. Driven by the Future Alumni Board (FAB), student leaders among the junior and senior classes have come together to lead the charge on fundraising for a cause that will benefit future Plymouth State students. This past year, FAB chose to support the Student Support Foundation (SSF) and Campus Recreation with the Class of 2025 Senior Class Gift.

To support giving, FAB offered limited edition Class of 2025 pint glasses to donors, with all proceeds going towards the Senior Class Gift. Additionally, the group has revived the annual Pints with PSU event, bringing back a senior ‘send-off’ at a local business before finals week, with friends and faculty coming out to support.

Students, parents, and alumni alike came together to donate, receiving pint glasses designed by student leader Rosella Rentas-Ubeda ’27. Rentas-Ubeda, a BFA student in Art and Design, serves as President of the Student Art Collective, TRIO Peer Mentor, Secretary of the Student Senate, and Communications and Engagement Officer for FAB.

For Rentas-Ubeda, being on the FAB is an opportunity to grow professionally and, more importantly, to grow as a person.

“I wanted to be involved with FAB because many of my friends who I admire and respect talked highly of the group,” she shared. “I also wanted an opportunity to meet new people and alumni that help students who rely on scholarships like I do.”

Working alongside her is Jacob Garside ’26, a BS student in Meteorology and Co-Chair of FAB. He serves as President of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Student Chapter at PSU and has been part of the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project.

Looking to branch out, Garside discovered the group and quickly jumped at the opportunity to engage with alumni and fellow students while also gaining valuable real-world experience.

“It’s been incredibly important to keep the traditions and support for Plymouth State alive.  By holding events like Pints with PSU, students who may not usually be engaged in events have the opportunity to do so.”

With students engaging philanthropically, thousands of dollars have been donated by generous supporters to help future generations.

In 2025 alone, $3,876 was raised by FAB. The funds helped provide valuable support to SSF – helping stock the campus food pantry and supporting emergency grants.

For Jess Dutille, Executive Director of Student Life and Community Impact and an advisor for SSF since 2016, student involvement means everything. 

“It has been an absolute honor working alongside the incredible student leaders on the SSF Board. They are wholeheartedly committed to supporting all PSU students and advancing our culture of care,” shared Dutille.

The way students are involved on campus and in the wider community is central to Plymouth State’s motto, Ut Prosim (that I may serve). With many students coming from modest means, groups like SSF have worked to uplift and support peers in need. In addition, the shared experience of PSU students over generations has inspired donor support – with SSF receiving support from the Morgridge Family Foundation. 

“The food pantry has expanded and is now centrally located in the Hartman Union Building, with thousands of dollars awarded to students in the form of emergency grants,” Dutille said. “I’m incredibly proud of our students for embodying the motto, Ut Prosim, in ways that honor our interconnectedness and positively impact our campus and broader communities.”

Students like Rentas-Ubeda echo the importance of students supporting one another.

“Current students know how to support their peers – we know what it is like to be students in modern day institutions. And students on FAB who have the opportunity to meet with alumni and donors also have the ability to help their fellow students by being ambassadors and showing donors what they are supporting.”

Garside echoes both of these sentiments: “FAB is a family that cares about the school and are willing to put in the work to better it.”