DePauw announces $2.6 million in lead gifts for Rector Scholarship Centennial Initiative

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

In support of DePauw University's commitment to the success of each student, President Mark McCoy has announced $2.6 million in leadership gifts for the Rector Scholarship endowment.

Alumni are making these gifts to DePauw in the centennial year of Edward and Lucy Rowland Rector's historic scholarship gift to be celebrated on campus May 10-12, 2019.

Edward and Lucy Rowland Rector

"The Rector Scholarship transformed DePauw and uplifted the life trajectories of generations of alumni leaders," President McCoy said. "We are grateful for those alumni who are now investing in the Rector Scholarship endowment, reciprocating to make a DePauw education possible for future generations of students."

Edward Rector and his wife Lucy Rowland Rector's 1919 gift remains one of the most influential acts of philanthropy in the history of DePauw. Since the scholarship's first awards in 1919, it has produced more than 4,000 DePauw graduates, many of whom are recognized among the university's most distinguished alumni.

Rector Scholars include astronaut Joe Allen '59, former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton '52, pharmaceutical executive Phyllis Ferrell '94, entrepreneur Angie Hicks '95 and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Ferid Murad '58, among many others.

To date 52 Rector Scholars have contributed $2.6 million to the Rector Scholarship Endowment since the April 2017 announcement of the centennial celebration. Those making leadership-level gifts of $100,000 or more include Brad Foss, Class of 2000; John Johnson, Class of 1947; Ron Luther, Class of 1970; Richard Peck, Class of 1956; Tom Schuck, Class of 1972; and Mike Smith, Class of 1970.

Rector Scholar commitments totaling an additional $3.4 million were made prior to the Rector Centennial Initiative, including a significant investment from Rector Centennial Steering Committee member Elgan Baker, Class of 1971. Prior and new commitments to the Rector Scholarship total $6 million.

"For me, as with many of the beneficiaries of the Rectors' generosity, this gift made a life-changing experience possible," Mike Smith, university trustee and co-chair of the Rector Centennial Committee, said. "I'm encouraged by the initial giving from Rector alumni to ensure DePauw can continue to provide this premiere merit scholarship which benefits both the students who receive it and the university community."

The remarkable gift of Lucy Rowland and Edward Rector is central to the culture of academic rigor, gratitude and philanthropy that defines DePauw. The Rector Scholarship Endowment continues to help DePauw recruit and provide scholarships for top performing students.

The Rector Centennial Committee's goal is to increase the Rector endowment to $40 million to provide 40 full-tuition scholarships every four years.

"DePauw has a tradition of philanthropy that Rector Scholars truly understand, and I am proud to be a part of that tradition, along with many of my fellow Rector alumni, to make an extraordinary DePauw education accessible for future generations of students," Tom Schuck, co-chairman of the Rector Centennial Committee, said.

Former and current Rector Scholars and their families will gather on DePauw's campus May 10-12 to commemorate the centennial of the Rector Scholarship Endowment with celebrations and guest speakers.

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