UIC Alumni Team Up to Help Students

An affordable education and access to excellence have always been the foundation of the UIC College of Medicine. Today, as tuition rates rise, the need for scholarship support becomes imperative.

"Class funds are a vital component of alumni giving," says Elizabeth Skinner, director of annual and special giving. "These funds provide much needed scholarships to today's students. Alumni can contribute to the funds at any time."

Although some funds have been in existence for over 10 years, the current growth was set in motion with the establishment of the Class of 1954 Memorial Scholarship. Milt Kramer, M.D. '54, directs his annual gift each year to the fund, but also committed a $100,000 bequest to his class scholarship. His generosity and dedication, along with fellow alumni leaders, have spurred others into action. Participating classes now encourage other classes to "pass it on" and start their own fund. Today, there are over 25 such scholarship funds.

Once a fund grows to $25,000, it becomes an active scholarship. When it reaches $100,000, it can be used by the Office of Admissions as a special recruitment scholarship. This will give the student the opportunity to receive the scholarship each year of school.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need by the dean and scholarship committee. Class of 1950 Scholarship recipient Sonya Meyers says, "I feel both honored and grateful for your assistance as I set forth in this new journey."

The Class of 1954's recipient, Daniel Golden, is proud to know alumni are counting on him to succeed and shares, "I am excited and honored to be the first recipient of this generous award." Student recipients repeatedly comment they hope one day to be able to repay the favor by keeping the spirit of the fund in mind and continuing the tradition of establishing scholarships for needy students.

John Mason Jr., M.D. '55, recognized the need for more scholarships for incoming students. "At our 50th reunion the idea surfaced and the establishment of a memorial class scholarship seemed a very meaningful way for our class to give back for our great education and wonderful careers."

Alumni gifts are helping these funds reach the $100,000 level. Many classes strive to reach the ultimate goal of having classmates step forward by remembering these funds in their estate plans to create a fully endowed, full-tuition scholarship at the $500,000 level.