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A family tradition will continue for Gillian “Quinn” Tansell, a recent graduate of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, made possible by a generous four-year scholarship to Oakland University.
The scholarship, now in its 13th year, was established by the late Patrick Scoggin and his wife, Christie. The four-year, full-tuition scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming OU freshman from Rochester Adams, Rochester, Avondale or Stoney Creek high schools.
Patrick Scoggin died from cancer in 2020. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oakland University in 2021.
As a child, Tansell was immersed in education.
Her mother served as a principal in Waterford School District and her father worked at Oakland Technical campus. She grew up with an appreciation of the critical role educators play in shaping students and communities.
“Ever since my kindergarten graduation, I knew I wanted to be an art teacher,” said Tansell. “I have a creative mind that loves to imagine and brainstorm the unthinkable. Creative thinking is crucial in a world that desperately needs imagination to solve ongoing issues.”
Christie Scoggin continues to forward the mission she and her late husband shared, supporting local students who are determined to make a difference in the world.
Past winners of the scholarship have gone on to become lawyers, biochemical engineers and nurses.
“My late husband and I started this scholarship in 2012 to begin to share the blessings that we were given in life with those that might need help financially to complete a degree,” said Christie. “It made sense to partner up with OU, being such a terrific university close to the Rochester area.
“I am a teacher by training and my husband was a businessman. Education has always been our passion and is a large part of the mission of our Scoggin Family Foundation,” said Christie.
“Oakland University is deeply grateful for the continued support and significant impacts of the Patrick and Christie Scoggin Foundation,” said Michael Westfall, vice president of university advancement. “Their generosity transforms the educational journey of our students and makes a profound difference in the lives of students just like Quinn.”
Tansell is enthusiastic about the future, meeting new people and diving deeper into her passions for studio art and art history.
“I want to help others develop and grow their creative thinking,” she said. “It’s about providing a light for younger generations coming into their own. My education at OU will allow me to be involved in a pay-it-forward view on life.”
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