Four Trustees Commit $1 Million Each to Support St. Lawrence Scholarships
Four members of St. Lawrence University's Board of Trustees and their families have each committed $1 million to strengthen endowed scholarships, expanding access to a St. Lawrence education for future generations of students.
Together, the gifts reflect a shared belief that talented students should be able to pursue a St. Lawrence education regardless of financial circumstances. They also underscore the important role scholarships play in helping students fully participate in the academic and co-curricular opportunities that define life at St. Lawrence.
The trustees — Shauna Ryan King ’79 and Steve King; Trip ’80 and Allyson Samson P’16; Julie ’88 and Jordan Hitch; and Will ’88 and Laura Wilson P’23 — each approached their giving through a personal connection to the University and a desire to create opportunities for future Laurentians.
Some of the scholarships are newly established, including the Samson Family Scholarship, which will begin benefiting students this fiscal year. The scholarship builds on a generous commitment to endowment that the Samsons made during the University's last campaign. Others build on years, even generations, of family investment in St. Lawrence students. All prioritize students with financial need, while the scholarship established by the Kings will also recognize strong academic achievement, with preference for descendants of veterans.
“College tuition is a challenge for many families these days, so when we were thinking about the best way to give to St. Lawrence, we decided that supporting scholarships was the way to go,” says Julie Hitch ’88. “I had such an incredible experience at St. Lawrence, both academically and socially, that I want to ensure that all students who want to attend are able.”
The Wilson Family Scholarship, first established in 2001 by John and Sandra Wilson P’88, GP’23 and Will Wilson ’88, P’23, has already supported numerous students and reflects a longstanding family commitment to St. Lawrence.
As more families weigh the cost of higher education, endowed scholarships provide steady, permanent support that helps the University attract and support talented students from a wide range of backgrounds.
“Our trustees play a vital role in the future of St. Lawrence, and through these gifts, they are making a direct and lasting investment in our students,” says President Kate Morris. “I’m incredibly grateful for their leadership and generosity. They are helping ensure that future generations of Laurentians have access to the same life-changing opportunities that have meant so much to them.”
