The Marshall Family Scholarship: A Legacy Built on Values

The Marshall Family Scholarship: A Legacy Built on Values

Amy and Jeremy Marshall's commitment to Aquinas College comes from a lifetime of care for this community and for Grand Rapids. Through a testamentary gift, they have established the Marshall Family Scholarship, a lasting expression of their belief in education, service, and the power of opportunity. It is their hope that this scholarship will support future Saints as they build meaningful lives rooted in service to others.

Both Amy and Jeremy received financial assistance while attending Aquinas College. The scholarships and support of their families "made it possible for us to attend college and discover our paths," they wrote. "That generosity planted a seed of gratitude in us that has grown stronger over time."

The Start of Their Story

Their joint legacy began when they first met in late summer of 2004 during the second day of Amy's orientation.

Amy fondly remembers those early days, particularly her participation in Project Unite - a service-learning event that's still held during orientation today - and the friendships she has nurtured ever since. "Those little relationships that you build within that first week are so crucial," she shared, recalling the mix of nervousness and excitement from that transition period. She remembers thinking, "You know, this is going to be home for the next four years, and hopefully it works out."

And it did.

Not only did she build lasting friendships, but she also met her future husband here. "Jeremy was actually an orientation lead for another group, and his best friend was an orientation lead for my group," she explained, recalling how he had helped answer many of her early college questions.

Similarly, when Jeremy began at Aquinas College, he built relationships quickly through his work in the Campus Safety office and in his classes. He didn't know anyone on his first day, but Aquinas' small class sizes - today hovering around a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio - created an accessible, personal environment where he felt supported.

"You never feel like you're lost," said Jeremy. "And we just had a really close group. A lot of us stayed and would work Campus Safety during the summer. We'd go out on the boat and spend time together. And then, Curtis Beckler was a professor in the communication department, and I did an internship with his business, which was a really great experience."

Bridging College and Careers

Throughout their time at Aquinas, Amy and Jeremy participated in prominent experiential learning programs that taught them important life skills: time management, critical thinking through discussion-based classes, problem-solving with real-world examples, community involvement, and - perhaps the most central to their legacy - servant leadership.

For Jeremy, this took the form of a semester-long study abroad program to rural Ireland that combined academics, cultural immersion, and personal growth. "You go over with a class of juniors and seniors, and two professors from Aquinas, and they teach all the courses. And you stay in these little cottages in a beautifully remote area in County Galloway," he shared. "You take a full semester of classes, but you still get to sightsee and take trips. I took a two-week spring break around Europe-and all sorts of those experiences that, otherwise, I wouldn't have had. Some of my best friends went with me."

Amy's experiential learning was a full-semester program in Chicago that combined academics with professional work experience. "My last semester at Aquinas was kind of like a little bridge into the real world," she explained. "It was a really cool experience taking what I learned in the classroom and actively applying it in real-time."

Service Beyond Graduation

Following graduation, Amy and Jeremy remained connected to the Aquinas community, and through a combination of professional and volunteer roles, consistently found ways to give back. Amy regularly volunteers with the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids , and Jeremy through the Knights of Columbus of St. Pius X in Grandville .

For many years, Amy served on the Aquinas Leadership Council as chair of the Professional Development Committee. There, she created a mentorship program that connected current AQ Saints with alumni volunteers. "So we had a list of alumni; if they were a doctor or if they went into legal, if they went into business or psychology, we could match up degrees and set up that mentorship," she explained.

"The Aquinas Leadership Council was pretty awesome to be a part of," she reminisced.

"As opposed to some of the larger universities where you're just a number, they [Aquinas staff and faculty] show that leadership and help you to develop as a student," Jeremy added. "And I think that carries over into our leadership and our professional lives, when there's an individual that you need to spend time to get to know in order to help them develop."

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Between her internships at Aquinas and her volunteer work on this council, Amy developed a deep appreciation for the power of professional development. Now, she co-owns Management Business Solutions , an executive search firm in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which helps companies recruit top talent. She not only built a career for herself and a foundation for her family, but she also consistently makes a point to extend similar internship opportunities to Aquinas' current Saints.

"Service and stewardship are foundational to how we live and lead. Giving isn't something we view as separate from our life or career - it's part of how we define success," said Amy. "Through my career helping people build careers and find opportunities, I've seen how education can completely change someone's life trajectory."

Common internship opportunities at Management Business Solutions include HR, marketing, and social media roles, and she's even been known to extend job offers to student interns after they graduate.

"Supporting Aquinas allows us to contribute to that same pipeline of developing future leaders and strengthening our community," said Amy. Furthermore, "Aquinas taught us that faith and service are not separate from our professional and personal lives; they are the heart of them."

Rooted in the Dominican Tradition

Faith and service are two of Aquinas' four pillars in our Dominican Catholic mission, standing strong alongside prayer and study. For Jeremy, these two are particularly important, as he became Catholic later in life and credits his familiarity with these values as a crucial element in his faith journey.

"When I started to attend church with Amy, it brought back a lot of the values that we were taught and experienced at Aquinas, you know, service or giving to others," he shared. "And when we started having kids, I wanted that foundation to teach them. It's been great because we have a lot of friends at church who went to Aquinas. It's just that community in Grand Rapids that brings us closer."

Because This Place Still Feels Like Home

"It seems like we just keep getting called back to Aquinas," Amy laughed as she recalled the various events around Grand Rapids and her many experiences running into old friends and colleagues.

When the Marshall family visited campus for Homecoming 2025, they brought along their two children: Owen, who's twelve years old, and Elliana, who's nine. To Elliana especially, all of this is new and exciting: walking around campus with her family, seeing the bounce house, and sitting on the class rock. "Who knows-we might have two future saints on our hands," Amy laughed.

"It's been exciting to share our experience with them," said Jeremy. "We want our children to grow up understanding that success isn't just about what you accomplish, but how you give back. Including Aquinas in our trust is part of teaching them that generosity and community investment are lifelong commitments."

Ready to Learn More?

To talk with someone about making an impact at Aquinas College through your will or estate plan, please contact Jeff Puckett, Principal Gifts Advisor, at 616.632.2816 or [email protected].