|
Alumni Class Scholar program counts on classes to assist financial aid effort
A janitor’s job more than six decades ago, is paying off for Rose-Hulman students
today.
Frank Pearce, a member of the Class of 1940, worked his way through Rose Poly as a janitor
at the Chicago/Milwaukee Railroad office in Terre Haute. That experience helped pay his
way through college, but it was at the expense of being involved in sports and other
extracurricular activities. Today, through a scholarship program funded by his class, he
is contributing to Rose-Hulman financial aid to give students a chance to have a more
complete college experience.
Pearce and his classmates are among several alumni who are contributing to the Rose-Hulman
financial aid program, which is called the Alumni Class Scholar Program. It gives all
Rose-Hulman classes an opportunity to help provide necessary financial aid for deserving
students.
Under the program, each graduating class is being asked to set up a scholarship endowment.
The minimum target principal for each endowment will be $50,000, but the amount can run
larger. One class currently has commitments up to $700,000. Interest from the funds will
support scholarships, and students receiving the award each year will be known as Class
Scholars.
The program, which has been approved by the Alumni Advisory Board, rolled out this fall
with appeals to 10 classes. During the next five years, all classes will be asked to
participate during their reunion years. All donations made to the scholarship funds will
be over and above any regular annual fund contributions.
Distributions of the scholarships will be handled through the Office of Financial Aid, but
each class will have input as to the parameters of the distributions.
The Alumni Class Scholar Program dovetails with a key goal of Phase II of the Vision to be
the Best campaign. Included in that $100 million goal is $20 million for financial aid.
In explaining his involvement, Pearce said “in the class of ’40, nobody had any
money. Everybody was dependent on scrounging money to go to college. Our scholarship fund
is designed to help make it easier for students today and for years to come.” He said
he wanted students not to have to worry about participating in all aspects of college life
because of having to work.
Another class taking a leadership role in the Alumni Class Scholar Program is the Class of
1952. “Tom Norman (now deceased), Gunter Thiel and I got together and discussed how
our class might make a gift to the college. We wanted to give a gift that had some
permanence to it,” explained Clyde Willian, class member who helped start the Class
of 1952 fund. “We also wanted to provide some payback to the college for the help
many of our classmates received when they were students.”
Willian, who also serves as vice chair,am of the Board of Trustees, said the Alumni Class
Scholar Program will not disappear, and it funds something the school truly needs. He also
pointed out it is a good way for younger alumni to have an impact on the college by
pooling their resources with their classmates.
The Class of 1954 started its fund last year. “The cost has escalated so high,
it’s difficult for high school students to come to Rose-Hulman ,” said Owen
Meharg, member of the Class of 1954. “College wasn’t quite as expensive in our
time, and all of our classmates appreciate the education and opportunities we have because
of Rose. We want to pay back in gratitude.”
“Early response to the program has been strong,” said Bruce Landis, director of
development and coordinator of the Alumni Class Scholar Program. “We are continuing
the tradition of past generations helping current and future generations. Once these funds
are fully endowed, they will go on forever. It certainly is a way of creating a legacy of
help.”
For more information, contact Landis at 812-877-8444 or via e-mail at
bruce.landis@rose-hulman.edu.
— by Bryan Taylor
 
|
