A legacy of a helping hand
How one act of support cultivated a lifelong connection to JMU: an alumnus' story
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SUMMARY: Dave Hillgrove’s (’79) story demonstrates the strength of the JMU community, showing how one act of support can create a lifelong connection and desire to help future Dukes succeed.
“The toughest conversation I ever had with my Dad came in 1976, after my freshman year of college at JMU. ‘I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but your mother and I do not have the money to return you to school,’ came from a broken man who was to die within five years,” reveals Dave Hillgrove (’79).
Fortunately, Hillgrove’s JMU story didn’t end there. Madison came through for him and found ways to support him in his time of need.
“I made it. I found the money here and there. I survived on less than $10 a week. Our beautiful school found a work/study job for me — delivering A/V equipment to professors,” Hillgrove stated.
Hillgrove's experience at JMU shows that although he faced financial struggles, the support of JMU alumni and donors ensured he didn’t miss out on what he described as the best four years of his life.
“Money is the last thing that should keep someone out of college… You can always find the money, but you’ve got to be working with people that care, and at Madison, I found exactly that,” Hillgrove affirmed.
Through his work-study position, Hillgrove met and connected with several professors, such as Dr. Eileen Nelson, a psychology professor who became a close confidante even beyond his years at Madison. In a 2000 edition of Madison, the JMU Magazine, Hillgrove’s tribute to Dr. Nelson describes the impact she had on him due to the constant support she showed him.
“She was a role model, confidante, friend, and mentor,” Hillgrove wrote in his tribute.
To this day, as a Forever Loyal Giving Society donor, Hillgrove pays forward the generosity JMU showed him by consistently giving back to and supporting causes that transformed his Madison journey. “JMU will always be the most important four years of my life…[giving back] is just a way to stay in touch with the school that formed me,” Hillgrove remarked.
