Campus News

Gift will fund full-tuition undergraduate scholarship for female humanities students

Rockford, Ill. (May 27, 2022) – Rockford University, the region’s leading private, four-year educational institution, announces an endowed gift of $700,000 donated in honor of a late alumna. The gift is the largest single donation since the conclusion of the university’s Rock Solid & Ready Campaign in 2019 and will fund a full-tuition undergraduate scholarship for female humanities students.

This endowed scholarship has been established by an anonymous donor in memory of his wife, an alumna from the 1950’s. She was a passionate advocate for Rockford University through her personal philanthropy and outreach. She was awarded the Rockford College Award of Distinction by the Alumni Association and also served on the Board of Trustees.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous endowed gift that will help support students for many years to come,” said Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D., Rockford University President. “Receiving a donation of this significance during our 175^th anniversary year demonstrates the tremendous impact this university has had on generations of students. Thanks to this gift, many future students will continue to benefit from the world-class education that Rockford University provides.”

Endowed scholarships allow for gifts to live in perpetuity as the gift grows and benefits countless students. This endowed undergraduate scholarship will provide a full-tuition scholarship for one student per year. The scholarship will be awarded to a female student who completes a written statement, pursues a degree in one of the humanities, and maintains a 3.0 grade point average. Preference will be given to first-generation students — a growing population of Rockford University’s undergraduate students.

 ABOUT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY

Rockford University is a private four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The university offers more than 80 majors, minors, and concentrations, including the bachelor’s degree completion program offering a B.S. in management studies and accounting studies. Through its graduate programs, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and Master of Education in Urban Education, (M.Ed.). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and as a U.S. News & World Report Best Midwest Regional University, Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,250 full-and part-time students.

For more information: Emma Bergstrom, Rockford University, 815.394.5041, ebergstrom@rockford.edu.