Keep Sandra Godwin at Roberts Wesleyan College
Donation protected
Sandra Keerthi Godwin, an international student from India, is currently a Junior at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York with only three semesters until graduation. Unfortunately, the global pandemic has been devastating to the Indian economy and her family’s resources have been depleted by the lockdown. Her family is no longer able to support her education financially, much as they wish they could. As an international student, Sandra has limited avenues to apply for aid, work, and loans. She is currently working every hour allowed as an international student: she is serving the college as the Student Assistant Worker for the Office of Humanities and General Education, the Choral Librarian for The Roberts Chorale, and as a Residential Assistant.
As hard as Sandra has worked, and as exhausted as she’s become, the total income from the three jobs and several scholarships has still come up short. Sandra has been unable to finish paying for her Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters and is therefore unable to register for 2021 classes. Since she is an international student, this threatens her status to stay in the United States as her F-1 Visa could be revoked on legal terms. This would mean she would have to say goodbye to the life she has established here in America, drop out of college, and return home to India without completing her degree.
With your help, Sandra will be able to graduate as planned. Our first goal is to raise $11,000 by January 25th so that she may pay her outstanding balances and register for Spring 2021. From there, we need to raise an additional $19,000 so that she may complete her time at Roberts Wesleyan College without any more financial stresses. This is her story:
Sandra was born to two loving parents in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India in 1999. They later moved to Chennai, India around 2006 where she would grow up following Jesus, performing music, and dreaming big. At the age of ten, she performed a solo as Annie with Stage Frights Production of Musical Hits. At the age of twelve, she performed to an audience of over 20,000 people at the Don Moen concert in Chennai. She also contributed to a climate change concert in the presence of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
Sandra first traveled to the United States in 2015 to attend a Summer Summit at The Berklee College of Music where her love for jazz led her to perform and showcase her talent before the Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Jane Monheit, and Peter Eldrige (her mentor from Berklee). Peter Eldrige even went so far as to remark that Sandra was sure to win a Grammy. They awarded her a scholarship at the end of her time at the Vocal Summit.
Following her time in the States, she returned home to finish her schooling and came back to the United States in 2018 on an F-1 Visa to study Vocal Performance at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. It is here where she pursues her passion for both jazz and classical music. In 2019, she was a soloist for Homecoming's An Evening On Broadway, a soloist for Handel’s Messiah at the annual Christmas Gala, and was cast as the First Lady for the music department’s opera production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. She also won first place in her division that year at The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. Recently, she was awarded first runner-up in the 2020 Concerto Aria Competition and is a frequent featured vocalist with the Jazz Band and Jazz Combo.
Sandra is described by one of her vocal professors of three years, Dr. Jeffery McGhee, as “...a uniquely gifted singer with tremendous potential.” He continued, “Sandra is growing into one of those complete package singers. She has a beautiful voice, she's a good musician with a really good ear, and she communicates well on stage. Her performances are honest and from the heart.” Most importantly, he claims that her desire to honor Jesus with her gift is “even more impressive.” “She is certainly representative of the type of student that we want to graduate from Roberts Wesleyan College.”
As Christians, we believe that each of us is a manager of money, not an owner and that God will provide according to His plan. If you feel led, please join us in supporting Sandra by donating what you can and by praying for her and her family’s peace and strength as precautionary plans are made. Be on the lookout for details regarding a benefit concert in upcoming months, as well.
We thank you for your contributions.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
We love you, Sandra. May the Lord bless you and keep you. - Bailey & Becca
As hard as Sandra has worked, and as exhausted as she’s become, the total income from the three jobs and several scholarships has still come up short. Sandra has been unable to finish paying for her Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters and is therefore unable to register for 2021 classes. Since she is an international student, this threatens her status to stay in the United States as her F-1 Visa could be revoked on legal terms. This would mean she would have to say goodbye to the life she has established here in America, drop out of college, and return home to India without completing her degree.
With your help, Sandra will be able to graduate as planned. Our first goal is to raise $11,000 by January 25th so that she may pay her outstanding balances and register for Spring 2021. From there, we need to raise an additional $19,000 so that she may complete her time at Roberts Wesleyan College without any more financial stresses. This is her story:
Sandra was born to two loving parents in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India in 1999. They later moved to Chennai, India around 2006 where she would grow up following Jesus, performing music, and dreaming big. At the age of ten, she performed a solo as Annie with Stage Frights Production of Musical Hits. At the age of twelve, she performed to an audience of over 20,000 people at the Don Moen concert in Chennai. She also contributed to a climate change concert in the presence of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
Sandra first traveled to the United States in 2015 to attend a Summer Summit at The Berklee College of Music where her love for jazz led her to perform and showcase her talent before the Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Jane Monheit, and Peter Eldrige (her mentor from Berklee). Peter Eldrige even went so far as to remark that Sandra was sure to win a Grammy. They awarded her a scholarship at the end of her time at the Vocal Summit.
Following her time in the States, she returned home to finish her schooling and came back to the United States in 2018 on an F-1 Visa to study Vocal Performance at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. It is here where she pursues her passion for both jazz and classical music. In 2019, she was a soloist for Homecoming's An Evening On Broadway, a soloist for Handel’s Messiah at the annual Christmas Gala, and was cast as the First Lady for the music department’s opera production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. She also won first place in her division that year at The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. Recently, she was awarded first runner-up in the 2020 Concerto Aria Competition and is a frequent featured vocalist with the Jazz Band and Jazz Combo.
Sandra is described by one of her vocal professors of three years, Dr. Jeffery McGhee, as “...a uniquely gifted singer with tremendous potential.” He continued, “Sandra is growing into one of those complete package singers. She has a beautiful voice, she's a good musician with a really good ear, and she communicates well on stage. Her performances are honest and from the heart.” Most importantly, he claims that her desire to honor Jesus with her gift is “even more impressive.” “She is certainly representative of the type of student that we want to graduate from Roberts Wesleyan College.”
As Christians, we believe that each of us is a manager of money, not an owner and that God will provide according to His plan. If you feel led, please join us in supporting Sandra by donating what you can and by praying for her and her family’s peace and strength as precautionary plans are made. Be on the lookout for details regarding a benefit concert in upcoming months, as well.
We thank you for your contributions.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
We love you, Sandra. May the Lord bless you and keep you. - Bailey & Becca
Fundraising team (3)
Bailey Thompson
Organizer
Rochester, NY
Sandra Godwin
Beneficiary
Martha Rescigno
Team member
Rebecca Mugnolo
Team member