Congratulations to Lauren Buniva – Class of 2016, Champlain College
Inaugural Recipient, Sarah Ramsey Strong Scholarship Award 2014
There was an intense desire to create a legacy for the young woman who touched all of our lives so deeply in the brief time she was with us. And thus, the Sarah Ramsey Strong Scholarship was born to honor Sarah’s memory by providing financial support to a Champlain College marketing student who is planning on studying abroad. The goal is to enable that student to have a transformative experience, much in the same way her experiences in Peru and China affected Sarah.
The Stiller School is pleased to award the inaugural Sarah Ramsey Strong Scholarship to Lauren Buniva, who has impressed so many of the faculty, who has been involved in the Champlain Community, who has already been successful in an internship, and who has strived to learn and grow from her experiences – all with the single-minded focus of becoming a marketing professional in the outdoor industry.
Lauren was drawn to Champlain because of her love of Vermont, the outdoor lifestyle, and the hands-on marketing program. When Burton Snowboards urged Lauren to learn more about the industry during an informational interview, she took a job at Bolton Ski Mountain and Eastern Mountain Sports to immerse herself in the customer experiences.
Similar to Sarah, Lauren always goes the extra mile with enthusiasm and intellect. As a sophomore, winning this scholarship is an incredible achievement while maintaining a near perfect grade point average. Congratulations, Lauren!
-Stiller School of Business Faculty
I am so honored to be the first recipient of the Sarah Ramsey Strong scholarship. Being chosen for this award and having the opportunity to meet personally with some of those who knew Sarah best, I feel very grateful and humbled to carry on the legacy of a person who has so clearly impacted the lives of many.
Since first entering Champlain, I was motivated to pursue a career in the outdoor industry and I’ve worked hard to make my dreams a reality. This month, I will leave for New Zealand to study abroad at the University of Otago. I’ll also be working at a local marketing agency where I’m looking forward to gaining a global perspective during my internship while I take advantage of all that New Zealand’s natural environment offers. I’m excited about what’s ahead and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences when I return to Champlain in November.
Receiving this scholarship has added an unexpected dimension to my study abroad experience. What I’ve learned about Sarah’s international internship experiences, as well as her passion for pursuing her dreams, has inspired me. Now as I plan and dream and study, I have Sarah’s dreams to accompany me. And I hope to do her proud!
-Lauren Buniva, Class of 2015
Sarah Ramsey Strong 