Scholarship Support on the Rise

By John R. Finnegan, Jr.
Dean and Professor
Sept. 17, 2007

Each year the School of Public Health benefits from significant philanthropic support from alumni, friends, faculty members, foundations, and local corporations. I am pleased to tell you that the past fiscal year was one of the best the school has ever experienced. Donors have stepped forward in major ways, contributing more than $1.1 million for student scholarships, not even including the significant support for our research and outreach efforts. Donors have responded generously to the University's matching programs that double the awards of all newly endowed scholarships.

This scholarship support is immense. For instance, Ruth Stief, founder of our public health nutrition program, donated more than $700,000 from her estate. This generosity is in addition to the many significant gifts that Ruth made during her lifetime to bolster the program. The new Ruth E. Stief Scholarship will provide full support for five students each year.

We also received a new scholarship gift from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to create a nearly half-million dollar endowment to support graduate education for underrepresented students in public health. This gift is a follow-up to the foundation's original gift in 2002, and our Hearst scholars have proven to be individuals with the capacity to make massive contributions to public health. The new gift will allow us to provide increased support to three Hearst Scholars every year.

Finally, friends and former students of Professor Robert Veninga celebrated his career and retirement by endowing the Robert and Karen Veninga Scholarship to support international students pursuing a M.P.H. degree. We know that international students face severe barriers to education and do not have access to the same financial aid available to domestic students. This scholarship honors a commitment to students that was a hallmark of Bob's career.

All of these scholarships receive University matching support--a huge plus for the school. I am committed to building on this success and will work in the coming year to garner even greater resources for our students. The school is not alone in this effort, as we work closely with the Minnesota Medical Foundation to conduct a comprehensive development program. However, much of the credit for this success rests with those of you reading today, especially those who make gifts to the school. Your support is greatly appreciated.