Castaldos’ gift will support military and veterans alumni, scholarship funds
Sometimes the stars do align.
“Spartan Sweethearts” Dean Castaldo ’12 and Emilie Peterson Castaldo ’10 met as Cone Residence Hall freshmen. Something clicked when Emilie was Dean’s date for a Marine Corps Ball, and the rest is history.
Married since 2015, they are grateful that UNCG brought them together.
“Our greatest gift from our time at UNCG remains the relationships that will last a lifetime,” Dean says.
Now, they have announced their own gift. This planned gift to their alma mater will support the UNCG General Scholarship Fund and the Military and Veterans Alumni Fund.
Why did they choose these two funds?
Dean, who was enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps throughout his undergraduate years and currently serves as a Naval Officer in the reserves, said, “As a first-generation college student, I was fortunate to receive a small scholarship and need-based grants at UNCG, in addition to using some of my G.I. Bill. However, I also borrowed student loans to pay for a portion of my education. The combination of undergraduate loans and law school loans I later borrowed impacted our view on the rising cost of higher education.”
Emilie’s family worked hard to save and provide for her education, but that, too, required sacrifices. As a couple, Dean and Emilie believe their own disciplined practices, hard work, and a bit of luck enabled them to navigate the financial barriers that student loans place on graduates. They know many others are not as fortunate, so they want to support scholarships for those students seeking an education that leads to a more prosperous and fulfilling career.
Their commitment to the Military and Veterans Alumni Fund was an easy decision. Aside from their experiences at UNCG, Dean’s military service has been the single most influential decision on their lives.
Service members and their spouses make personal and professional connections that are forged during difficult training, deployments, and grinding work. The power of mil-vet networks provides a source of support and inspiration at various stages of veterans’ lives.
“This is why I helped organize the creation of the Military and Veterans Alumni Network while working at UNCG,” Dean says. “Emilie and I remain committed to the Network’s continued success, especially given UNCG’s proud history of serving the military-affiliated community.”
Today, they live in Maryland, where Dean is a Regional Director of Development for the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, while Emilie is the Senior Grants Manager for the conservation non-profit Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A UNCG Advancement staff member post-graduation, Dean maintains his ties with the University through participation on the Alumni Leadership Board and in the Military and Veterans Alumni Network. The couple returns to Greensboro frequently to visit campus and enjoy fun times with friends from their UNCG family.
“Dean and Emilie are leading by example and we are grateful!” says Beth Fischer, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement. “They are living a life of service and continue to champion UNCG in a variety of ways. We are lucky to have this dynamic duo in our Spartan family.”
These young professionals believe it is vital for all alumni to be committed to their university, and including UNCG in their legacy planning made good sense.
“It’s the right thing to do,” says Dean. “Emilie and I both work in the non-profit profession, and in a small way, the timing of this gift was to ‘practice what we preach.’ We encourage all alumni to consider doing the same.”
Courtesy photo, (l-r) Emilie Peterson Castaldo ’10 and Dean Castaldo ’12