Alumni story: Sam Anderson
October 23, 2024
Name: Sam Anderson
Gonzaga Prep `20, Notre Dame `24
Youngest benefactor to establish endowed scholarship
I’m a 2020 graduate of Gonzaga Prep, and I recently had the privilege of speaking to our community at the Financial Aid Luncheon. It was a moment of deep gratitude and reflection on the journey that brought me here.
I’ll never forget the day eight years ago when my parents told me I had received enough fair share support to make attending Gonzaga Prep possible. Before they got home with the news that I had been awarded the Coach Bill Frazier Scholarship, I was certain it wasn’t meant to be. Then, during my junior year, when my younger brother was about to start high school, we didn’t know if I’d still be able to stay at Prep without additional help. Once again, a letter arrived, and I was awarded the Coach Bill Frazier Scholarship. That moment made it possible for both of us to attend.
When I was at Gonzaga Prep, I worked hard. Every day, I commuted 45 minutes each way, leaving home at 6:45 in the morning and arriving at school by 7:30. After classes and cross country practice, I’d get home around 6:30—if I avoided traffic. By then, I’d miss dinner with my siblings, spend four hours on homework, and then go to bed, only to do it all again the next day. On Saturdays, I competed in cross country meets in the fall and track meets in the spring.
It wasn’t easy, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I loved my four years at Gonzaga Prep, and I miss them every single day. While I can’t go back, what I can do is be a positive impact for students in the future. That’s why I chose to fund a scholarship.
I truly believe that funding a scholarship for Gonzaga Prep is one of the most impactful investments you can make.
Receiving the Coach Bill Frazier Scholarship meant the world to me, and I wanted to pay it forward. It’s hard to put into words what attending Prep meant to me, and I can’t imagine where I’d be today without it.
To me, being a person “for and with others” means more than looking out for others—it means taking the journey with them. When you make a donation or fund a scholarship at Gonzaga Prep, you’re not just giving money and walking away. You’re joining someone on their educational journey, directly impacting their life in a meaningful way.
I truly believe that funding a scholarship for Gonzaga Prep is one of the most impactful investments you can make. The dividends—both tangible and intangible—are unmatched. You’re helping students, shaping their futures, and making a difference in ways you can see and feel.
When I was a student, I remember attending the Financial Aid Luncheon and helping clean up plates afterward. To now stand on the other side of the event, speaking as a benefactor, is deeply humbling. Gonzaga Prep gave me so much, and I’m honored to give back and help ensure others can experience the same transformative journey.
