There was plenty of excitement following Convocation this year, but not everyone was headed back to their residence halls.
Some students were running.
Waiting for Carroll’s newest first-year students were their new MacBook Neo laptops, provided at no cost through the Saints Smart Start Initiative and the generosity of donors Shelly Goldberg and Ryan McCauley.
The lines were long as staff worked to pair each laptop with its new owner, but the wait did little to dampen the enthusiasm. As one student put it, “Getting a MacBook is so worth waiting in line.” Another could hardly believe it: “Can you believe we all got a new MacBook?” For others, the moment had been months in the making. “I’ve been waiting for six months for this,” one student shared. And the excitement extended well beyond campus, with another noting, “My friends who went elsewhere cannot believe the college gave me this.”
That excitement was exactly what Goldberg and McCauley hoped their gift would inspire, but the laptops represent something more. Their investment ensures that every incoming full-time, first-year undergraduate student begins at Carroll with access to the same technology and one less expense for students and their families.
Goldberg worked with a team of engineers at Apple to help bring the MacBook Neo to life, making the opportunity to place the new laptops directly into the hands of Carroll students especially meaningful. She and McCauley, a Helena native, share a strong belief in higher education and in Carroll’s ability to make a lasting difference through its students and graduates.
“We wanted to support students in a way that reflects who we are and what we value,” they shared when the initiative was announced. “Providing this technology helps ensure students feel supported from the moment they arrive and are prepared for success from day one.”
For President Glowienka, the gift also speaks to something Carroll sees time and again: donors who recognize the potential in Carroll students and want to help them make the most of it.
“There was so much excitement as our students received their laptops, and it was wonderful to see,” Dr. Glowienka said. “For our newest Saints, this is one more way of saying: you belong here, we are invested in your success, and we want you to have what you need from the very beginning.”
The MacBook Neo features a 13-inch display, Apple’s A18 Pro chip, a lightweight design and long battery life, giving students a versatile tool for coursework, research and creative projects throughout their Carroll experience.
And judging by the smiles, conversations and students happily carrying their new laptops away from distribution, Carroll’s newest Saints are ready to put them to use.
