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Honoring the past and present

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When brainstorming the perfect gift for a loved one, not many people may think of naming a scholarship in that person’s honor. Bob Miller (AB ’64), however, has made a tradition of commemorating life’s big moments by giving back.  

When his wife’s father passed, Bob decided to give to the University of Georgia to begin that legacy. “Mary Helen was the apple of her father’s eye, so I wanted to make sure she could remember him in a way that was meaningful to us both,” Bob explained. It was this reasoning that led Bob to establish the Charles M. Hicks Scholarship Fund–named after Mary Helen’s beloved father–during the holiday season of 1981 as a gift to her. The Charles M. Hicks Scholarship fund supports students in the Morehead Honors College, a program that had a profound impact on Bob during his own time at UGA. 

Established in 1960, the Honors College–known as the Honors Program before 2021–counted Bob Miller as a student in its very first cohort. The experience was transformational for him; by participating in smaller classes and fostering deeper connections among students and faculty, the Honors College ignited a lifelong love of learning in Bob.  

Bob Miller takes a break while hiking in Dartmoor, England.

“It just blew my mind,” Bob said. “I couldn’t get over how much more I enjoyed going to class after joining the program. It was a fascinating learning experience,” he continued. “The Honors Program made me a student; I wouldn’t have created a scholarship today if it weren’t for my experience in the Honors Program.”  

Bob’s university experience was one he wanted to share with future generations of students, regardless of their circumstances. Establishing several need-based scholarships in Mary Helen’s name was the logical next step in Bob’s giving journey with the university. “I loved the idea of not letting a good student fall between the cracks because they lack the financial means to attend or didn’t want to borrow and be stuck in debt,” Bob explained.  

“We shouldn’t fail to fulfill the potential of students who would eventually become an asset to this state,” he said. “It’s important for us to try to keep the very best of human capital in Georgia by offering as many students as we can the opportunity to attend the state’s flagship university.” 

Building a better future

The Charles M. Hicks Scholarship fund has helped many students make the most of their time at UGA by supporting scholarships through the Morehead Honors College. Still, Bob would like to see more growth in the fund as well as in two need-based Georgia Commitment Scholarships Bob created and named after his wife, Mary Helen, in August 2023 to celebrate the couple’s 60th anniversary.  

“In my lifetime, I want to see the Hicks scholarship valued at $1 million and for there to be four Mary Helen Miller scholarships–one for each year she was at the university,” Bob explained. Supporting these scholarships has become a point of pride for Bob, an appropriate way for him to celebrate the past but also allow future generations of students to have the same transformative experiences at the university that he did. 

One of the recipients of the Charles M. Hicks Scholarship, Nicole Moreno ’25, reflected on her own life-changing immersive learning experience that she was only able to embark on with the assistance of that scholarship.  

Nicole Moreno ’25 was able to embark on her own travels thanks to the Hicks scholarship.

“When I first started looking into a year abroad, I was almost discouraged by the cost of it all,” Nicole said. “My experience studying abroad is one I will never forget, and I am so eternally grateful to the Honors College and its donors for putting their faith in me to venture out, grow, explore, and change the world.”  

From the Bob Millers to the Nicole Morenos, the Morehead Honors College at UGA offers many students learning opportunities that can help shape their future and ignite their passions. When students like Bob and Nicole become alumni, those experiences can inspire them to give back so that current and future students are able to access similar opportunities, continuing a cycle of cascading impact for generations to come.   

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UGA Foundation honors Judge Steve Jones with award, named scholarship

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The University of Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees created a scholarship fund recognizing Judge Steve C. Jones (BBA ’78, JD ’87) during its board meeting this past summer. 

At the meeting, Jones was named the latest recipient of the foundation’s Distinguished Service Award, a recognition that comes with a $100,000 allocation from the UGA Foundation’s unrestricted operating surplus to establish a scholarship in the honoree’s name. Jones, selected by unanimous vote, is the fourth recipient of the award. 

“I am inspired by Steve’s commitment to service, both to the university and throughout his career,” said Neal Quirk, who was chair of the Board of Trustees when the award was given. “His involvement with the UGA Foundation has been critical to supporting our efforts to make progress for UGA across all of the board’s committees.” 

The fund will support need-based scholarships through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, providing an immediate award of $3,500 that will be awarded annually and will be renewable for up to four years. First preference for the scholarship will be given to first-generation college students.

Judge Steve Jones

Alumnus and Judge Steve C. Jones, shown giving the fall 2018 UGA Commencement address, is the latest recipient of the UGA Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Jones graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in management in 1978 and earned his juris doctorate from the UGA School of Law in 1987. He worked as a Superior Court judge in Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties for 16 years preceding his appointment by President Barack Obama in 2011 as a United States District Court judge. 

Jones has devoted himself to serving the University of Georgia. He served as a member of the UGA Athletic Association Board, president of the UGA Alumni Association, and chair of the UGA School of Law’s Board of Visitors. He has been named an honorary member of the Blue Key Honor Society. Jones served on the foundation board from 2011 to 2022, during which time he acted as secretary and strategic vice chair of the board and a member of the executive committee. 

Outside of the university, Jones is a member of the Old War Horse Lawyer’s Club and the Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta, and is a former chair of the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission and the Athens Area Community Foundation. He has served on the Georgia Supreme Court’s Commission on Equality and Domestic Violence Committee. He is also president of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court.

UGA alumna credits scholarship program for professional success

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Growing up, Natalie Clauson (AB ’21) always knew she wanted to be a Bulldog. Coming from a family of Georgia fans and an older brother who loved his time at the university, she built a dream of becoming a Dawg herself. Now, after graduating with a degree in public relations and working her way up to a manager position in a Bulldog 100 company, she has become quite the outstanding alumna.

Natalie Clauson credits much of her professional success to the Georgia Commitment Scholarship (GCS) program that allowed her to thrive during her time at UGA. “It was such a blessing, beyond just financially,” she said.

The GCS program has created more than 680 endowed, need-based scholarships since 2017, and students in Natalie’s scholarship cohort were some of the first to be awarded this aid. The program invests in its students financially, but also professionally and academically with a focus on providing networking opportunities and career coaching. Natalie explains, “GCS is like having an extra layer of support at UGA in all aspects of student life.”

As an undergraduate student, Natalie was involved in many areas on campus. She served as T-shirt Chair for Alpha Chi Omega, designing merchandise for her sorority—something she considers an integral part of her college experience. She was also a member of the Wesley Foundation, serving as a small group leader and discipleship mentor. In addition, Natalie was a teacher’s assistant for American Sign Language (ASL) courses and closely worked with ASL students and Brian Leffler, lecturer in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. This experience, as well as her involvement with her sorority and campus ministry, gave her a passion for mentorship that she carries with her to this day.

Natalie, at a Georgia-Florida game with friends

Natalie, at a Georgia-Florida game with friends

“My biggest advice to current UGA students is to find a mentor,” Natalie states. “Finding people to ask for advice who had similar career goals to me was something that I really valued in college. I don’t think I would have the experience that I do now without that.”

Donors who create Georgia Commitment Scholarships like Natalie’s have the opportunity to provide direct mentorship to the student receiving the scholarship. Natalie remains connected to her donor, Samuel Holmes, and the team of UGA staff who operate the GCS program. “The fact that the team still checks on me shows how much they care about the students going through this program,” said Natalie.

During her time as a student, Natalie worked as an intern with a public relations agency she was connected to through the GCS program. Her experiences in that internship helped her to land a position with her current employer, Marketwake, a leading digital marketing agency and 2023 Bulldog 100 honoree based in Atlanta. After finishing the junior associate program, which places great emphasis on mentorship and training, Natalie was offered a full-time role with the company as a technical project manager and traffic manager.

“Being part of the GCS program was essential to my growth as a student and a professional,” she states. “I wouldn’t be where I am without it.”

UGA sorority alumnae establish endowed scholarship

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UPDATE: As detailed in the original story below, in addition to establishing a Georgia Commitment Scholarship in 2022—which has since been awarded to its first recipient—Alpha Kappa Alpha alumnae took on a fundraising campaign to establish a second, merit-based scholarship to support Franklin College students who are committed to furthering the advancement of girls and women in their community and in higher education. In the year since this story was published, 233 donors gave over $100,000 to establish this scholarship. This accomplishment was one of the many celebrated at the Eta Xi chapter’s 50th anniversary gala in Athens on March 14, 2023.

Alumnae of the Eta Xi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha gathered in Athens to celebrate the chapter's 50th anniversary on March 14, 2023.

Alumnae of the Eta Xi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha gathered in Athens to celebrate the chapter’s 50th anniversary on March 14, 2023.

More than 100 alumnae of the University of Georgia’s Eta Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., gave a total of over $50,000 to establish the 1973 Eta Xi Alumni Association Inc. Georgia Commitment Scholarship, which will provide need-based aid to UGA students in perpetuity.

“I am grateful to UGA’s Alpha Kappa Alpha alumnae, who are setting an outstanding example of generosity at our university,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Their support of current students through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program will make a lasting impact on the lives of UGA students as well as their families and communities.”

Near the beginning of 2021, Eta Xi alumnae set out to raise $50,000 by the end of the year to create a scholarship that would help ease students’ financial burdens and introduce different perspectives to the campus community. Once that goal was met, their collective gift was matched by the UGA Foundation (UGAF) with an additional $50,000 through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, thanks to funding provided in August 2021 by the UGAF board of trustees.

The scholarship will benefit students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, and the first recipient will be named in fall 2022.

“Giving to student scholarships enables me to honor the rich history of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at UGA through Eta Xi Chapter while also celebrating current students,” said Natalie Lewis (ABJ ‘91), a member of the Black Alumni Leadership Council and life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. “As an alumna, I am truly proud to support UGA students’ success and grateful for all the donors to this effort. The tenacity and drive—particularly of students of color—are remarkable in these tough times.”

Since surpassing their fundraising goal, the Eta Xi alumnae group has continued raising support for scholarships. They are currently raising funds for a second Eta Xi alumnae scholarship, which will be a merit-based scholarship to support students who are committed to furthering the advancement of girls and women in their community and in higher education.

“I give to UGA because I am a firm believer that education and exposure are the keys that unlock potential and opportunity,” said V. Gail Bibbs Holmes (BBA ’92), Eta Xi alumna. “When a young person is fortunate enough to interact and learn with people from all over the world, their perspective grows, their thoughts expand and, hopefully, they are positively influenced by this experience. Unfortunately, there are still too many young people who have the desire and capability to attend college but do not have the financial means.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was the first Greek-letter organization established by African American college women. Sixty-five years after its founding, on January 13, 1973, the Eta Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha was instituted at UGA by women who sought to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards and promote unity and friendship among college women.

Today, Eta Xi members and alumnae strive to build upon the sorority’s legacy through a commitment to scholarship, leadership and service to the university and Athens-Clarke County communities. The need-based scholarship they have established and the merit-based scholarship to come are the latest demonstrations of that commitment.

Scholarship support allows deserving UGA students to focus more on their coursework and participate in extracurriculars that promote growth and experiential learning opportunities. To learn more about supporting student scholarships at UGA, visit give.uga.edu/removing-barriers.

UGA alumni pro golfers headline donors to new scholarship

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Thanks to the play of nearly a dozen current and former University of Georgia golfers in a recent PGA Tour event and the generosity of Bulldogs on and off the course, contributions totaling more than $100,000 will create a new endowed, need-based scholarship at UGA.

Eleven UGA-affiliated golfers took part in the RSM Classic on St. Simons Island in November. Former UGA Alumni Association President Bonney Shuman (BBA ’80), a resident of St. Simons Island, saw an opportunity to pull together the group to support their alma mater.

“While my golfing talent is more watching than playing, these players and I do share something powerful: pride in our university,” said Shuman. “UGA made incredible experiences possible for all of us, so we are proud to help UGA make incredible experiences possible for future generations through a Georgia Commitment Scholarship.”

The Georgia Commitment Scholarship (GCS) Program—a need-based aid program built on private donations matched by the UGA Foundation—captured the attention of many donors since its 2017 launch, resulting in the creation of over 520 endowed, need-based scholarships.

Shuman joined Harris English (BSFC ’11), Brian Harman (BBA ’11), Russell Henley (BSFCS ’11), Chris Kirk (BSED ’08), Kevin Kisner (BBA ’06), Keith Mitchell (BBA ’14), Sepp Straka (BBA ’15), Hudson Swafford (BSFCS ’11) and Brendon Todd (BBA ’07) in pledging $5,000 each, which was then matched by the UGA Foundation, resulting in $100,000 committed to the UGA Alumni PGA Tour Professionals Georgia Commitment Scholarship.

Support also came from beyond Sea Island Golf Club. Prior to the RSM Classic, the UGA Alumni Association asked a select group to pledge “A Buck A Birdie” to the scholarship fund: $1 for every birdie by a UGA golfer during the tournament. At the close of the event, the golfers had scored 155 birdies, bringing the total amount pledged to more than $2,500.

“Our alumni are some of the most generous and supportive that you are likely to find, and the work of incredible volunteers like Bonney, who take their passion for UGA into their communities, is a big reason why,” said Kelly Kerner, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Every Bulldog who contributed to this scholarship has made a tangible, long-term impact on students in Georgia, and they have my gratitude.”

This isn’t the RSM Classic’s only connection to the GCS Program: last year, the Davis Love Foundation, which hosts the tournament, created its own GCS fund with a $50,000 gift.

Georgia Commitment Scholars are supported not just by funding from the scholarship, but with a rich slate of programming that offers ways to connect with other GCS recipients and the donors who created the scholarships. GCS students can receive special tutoring, workshops, academic coaching and other support through the Division of Academic Enhancement.

Because of Tatiyana Sinkfield’s scholarship, ‘this is only the beginning’

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Tatiyana Sinkfield (BSA ’20) has a lot to celebrate these days. She is one of the University of Georgia’s newest alumni, having graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biological Science from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She also graduated as a first-generation college student and a proud alumna of the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program.

Through this program, Sinkfield was one of five students to receive a scholarship from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. The foundation established the scholarships to support, in perpetuity, students from Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhoods.

Sinkfield was both surprised and grateful when she learned that she was the recipient of a Georgia Commitment Scholarship supported by the Angela and Arthur M. Blank Scholarship Fund, and her family and friends were equally as thrilled.

“This scholarship program provided me with on-campus resources, educational support and motivation. The staff members were so encouraging and kind,” said Sinkfield.

In addition to the financial resources and on-campus support offered through this scholarship, Sinkfield also enjoyed the unique opportunity of meeting Arthur Blank in 2018 over a small dinner on campus with the other Blank Foundation scholarship recipients. She recalls the group’s inspiring discussion on success after college, community engagement and setting and achieving important life goals.

One of her biggest life goals is to become a pediatrician, and Sinkfield plans to take a gap year to study and gain additional hands-on experience in the medical setting before attending medical school next fall. She believes that the rigor of her coursework at UGA has prepared her for medical school and equipped her with important skills like time management and accountability. Additionally, Sinkfield says that interacting with people from different places and different backgrounds at UGA has really strengthened her interpersonal skills, which she asserts are essential to becoming a good doctor.

The impact of her Georgia Commitment Scholarship extended beyond the classroom, as she emerged as a natural leader on campus during the last four years. Sinkfield served as a resource to several fellow Georgia Commitment Scholars pursuing the pre-medical route and volunteered with numerous organizations including Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and Georgia DAZE, an overnight campus visitation program for talented high school seniors from historically underrepresented areas that have been admitted to UGA.

Like so many students, Sinkfield points to a nighttime football game under the Sanford Stadium lights as one of her favorite UGA memories. She vividly remembers the energy and school spirit that filled the stadium and said the feeling of camaraderie among the Bulldog Nation was utterly surreal.

Sinkfield plans to carry that same feeling of camaraderie into the next chapter of her life, remaining forever proud of her time at UGA and grateful for her Georgia Commitment Scholarship.

“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation scholarship has helped me achieve not only my goals at UGA, but laid a foundation for my future successes. This is only the beginning.”

SUPPORT STUDENT EMERGENCY FUNDS TO HELP STUDENTS IN NEED

From Fauci to philanthropy: one Georgia family’s story of mentorship and generosity

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Left to Right: Suzanne, Shelly (AB ’19) and Steven Peskin’s family story is rich in mentorship, giving and Bulldog spirit.

Anthony Fauci is now a household name.

It happened quickly, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country and government officials looked to experts like Dr. Fauci for guidance.

But for Suzanne Peskin’s family, Anthony Fauci was a household name long before we all became living room epidemiologists and socially distanced hermits. That is because Dr. Fauci, affectionately known in Suzanne Peskin’s family as “Tony,” is a family friend and former mentee of Suzanne’s father, Dr. Sheldon “Shelly” Wolff (BS ’52).

A Georgia Genesis

Drs. Herman Peskin (BS ’50) and Sheldon Wolff (BS ’52) met as students at UGA. Here, they pose for a photo at the wedding of Dr. Wolff’s daughter Suzanne to Dr. Peskin’s son Steven.

The Peskin family’s story is filled with examples of mentorship and philanthropy going back to Dr. Wolff’s undergraduate days in Athens. Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Wolff found himself in the South when UGA was the only school to offer him a full college scholarship. He came to Athens as a music major and eventually served as drum major of the Redcoat Band. During his time at UGA, Dr. Wolff changed plans, switching his major from art to science and setting his sights on medical school.

Dr. Wolff’s roommate was Phillip Peskin (BBA ’53). He and Philip joined Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) fraternity and attended activities at the Hillel House, a Jewish student center near campus. Through TEP, Dr. Wolff also met Phillip’s older brother, Herman Peskin (BS ’50). Being far from home, Dr. Wolff enjoyed holidays meals during Jewish high holidays like Yom Kippur at the Peskin family home near Athens.

After college, Dr. Wolff and Phillip went their separate ways. Dr. Wolff attended medical school in Germany before transferring to Vanderbilt University to complete his degree. During his last year of medical school, he married Lila Leff before becoming an internal medicine resident in New York City.

Fauci and Friends

In 1960, Dr. Wolff joined the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Bethesda, Maryland. He later became the clinical director, serving at NIAID for 17 years. He valued research and enjoyed seeing the results of it improve patients’ lives. During that time, Dr. Fauci arrived at NIAID as a clinical associate working under Dr. Wolff. A friendship began between the two men that would last the rest of Dr. Wolff’s life. Dr. Fauci would later say that Dr. Wolff “clearly stands out as the person who made the greatest impact on (his) career.”

Dr. Wolff left NIAID in 1977 to become a professor and chair of the department of medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine and physician-in-chief at the New England Medical Center Hospital in Boston. Dr. Fauci would go on to enjoy a successful career in public health research, working under six presidents on a variety of disease outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS and now the novel coronavirus.

“Shelly set me on the road to becoming a physician-scientist,” Dr. Fauci said in a 2007 award acceptance speech. “Besides being a generous mentor, he became one of my closest friends and ultimately the best man at my wedding.”

Dr. Wolff and Dr. Fauci became so close that, after her father died, Suzanne Peskin would occasionally call Dr. Fauci for advice on medical decisions. Suzanne knew she could trust that Dr. Fauci’s advice would be nearly identical to what her father would have said. Today, Suzanne believes that her father’s pandemic advice would be as simple as, “listen to Tony Fauci.”

Two Become One

But there is even more to this Bulldog story.

Dr. Wolff was working in Boston in 1981 when Steven Peskin, Herman Peskin’s son, was interviewing for a residency position at the hospital where Dr. Wolff worked. This was far from Steven’s hometown of Augusta. In the spirit of what was done for him during his undergraduate years at UGA, Dr. Wolff invited Steven to a Yom Kippur dinner. That is how Steven met Dr. Wolff’s daughter, Suzanne, who was a senior at Boston University.

Steven ended up matching for an internal medicine program in Boston that year and started dating Suzanne in 1982. They married three years later.

Steven later pursued an MBA on the advice of Dr. Wolff, who believed the degree would be useful as the field of medicine evolved. Steven eventually used that degree to transition to the corporate side of health care. He and Suzanne moved around the country, eventually settling in New Jersey. They have two children, Benjamin and Shelly, the latter named for Dr. Wolff.

The Bulldog Legacy Continues

Shelly Peskin (AB ’19), whose grandfathers met as students at UGA, keeps the family’s Bulldog legacy alive.

Shelly Peskin (AB ’19) is single-handedly carrying on her family’s Bulldog legacy, following in the steps of both of her grandfathers. According to her mother, Shelly decided to attend UGA during a trip to the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club during high school. During the trip, she toured UGA and visited the Hillel House. While there, she felt at home and connected to the place where her grandfathers had bonded as undergraduates.

When Suzanne and Steven attended UGA orientation with Shelly, they were inspired to join the Parents Leadership Council (PLC), a community of highly engaged parents who seek to foster a world-class learning experience for UGA students.

They viewed the PLC as an opportunity to plug in and give back to the university for all it has given their family. They wanted to feel as connected to UGA as they could, especially while their daughter began her journey in Athens. Suzanne and Steven served on the PLC from 2015 until Shelly graduated in 2019.

Everything came full circle for the family in 2017 when they endowed a need-based Georgia Commitment Scholarship in honor of Drs. Wolff and Herman Peskin. The opportunities given to their fathers fueled Steven and Suzanne’s spirit of generosity. Dr. Wolff’s music scholarship and Herman Peskin’s G.I. bill education allowed them to become successful doctors–and mentors for other successful professionals. The family wanted to help similar dreams come true for UGA students in the years to come. The first recipient of the scholarship started at UGA in fall 2018 and is now a rising third-year.

“(Our fathers) were able to achieve enormous success in their lives due to the generous scholarship opportunities that were made available to them,” Suzanne said. “They were both children of hard-working immigrants that came to America with nothing more than a strong work ethic and the desire to give their children the opportunity to be successful. That is our hope for the recipients of the Georgia Commitment Scholarship that is named in their memory.”

Dr. Wolff passed away due to complications from cancer in 1994. Suzanne is proud that her father’s legacy lives on in the people he mentored, trained, taught and treated during his life as a doctor and researcher.

“He left this world a better place,” Suzanne said. “Just far too early.”

 

You can also make a difference in the life of a student. Become a mentor.

Learn more about the Parents Leadership Council.

UGA provides financial assistance to students in need

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This story was written by Greg Trevor and originally posted to UGA Today on April 3, 2020.

As individuals and communities continue to struggle in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Georgia community has rallied to commit thousands of dollars in new emergency funds for students experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties.

Since March 20, a total of $600,000 has been added to two private funds established by President Jere W. Morehead to aid students: the Undergraduate Student Emergency Fund and the Graduate Student Emergency Fund. Morehead authorized the transfer of $475,000 from the President’s Venture Fund for this purpose, while the trustees of the UGA Foundation directed another $125,000.

“We are grateful for the generosity of alumni and friends who have provided these discretionary dollars to be used for priorities identified by the institution,” said Morehead. “At this time, the leaders of our Foundation and I agree that we need to apply these resources to help ensure the welfare of our students in need.”

Applications for the funds are being coordinated through the Office of Student Financial Aid in partnership with Student Care and Outreach for the Undergraduate Student Emergency Fund and in partnership with the Graduate School for the Graduate Student Emergency Fund. Students may contact them through the links provided.

“We are prioritizing the awarding of these funds to students who demonstrate significant financial need and have exhausted available resources such as student loans,” said Anthony Jones, director of student financial aid. “As of today, our requests for assistance from undergraduates have exceeded 300 individuals.”

With regard to graduate students, the Graduate School has received nearly 40 applications for financial support. “These additional resources are critically needed right now and are being expeditiously deployed to help graduate students meet their financial obligations,” said Interim Dean Ron Walcott.

President Morehead and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Kelly Kerner have launched a special giving campaign to support the effort. The campaign will continue as long as the need remains.

In addition—in response to a request from parents and students to do so—the University is offering a way for students themselves to contribute by donating a portion of the student fee refund they will soon be receiving to help their fellow students.

“By giving to student emergency funds, our donors can have a powerful, direct and immediate effect on these students’ lives—providing them the means to buy food, pay rent, receive medicine and medical care, secure the technology they need to continue their education and more,” Kerner said. “What we do today will last long after this moment has passed.”

To support UGA’s most vulnerable students during this global crisis, please visit UGA’s Coronavirus Emergency Support website.

Support Students in Need

UGA Greek councils create two $100K Georgia Commitment Scholarships

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The University of Georgia Panhellenic Council and UGA Interfraternity Council each gave $100,000, matched by the UGA Foundation, to establish two endowed, need-based scholarships through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program.

“We are so excited by and proud of these councils and their member organizations,” said Victor K. Wilson, vice president of student affairs. “Our students understand the value of a UGA education, and to see them commit to providing that opportunity to others—in perpetuity—is inspiring.”

The Panhellenic Council governs UGA’s 19 female fraternities and sororities that are members of the National Panhellenic Conference, and the Interfraternity Council represents 26 member fraternities at the University. The two councils gave to these scholarship funds on behalf of their member organizations, and both scholarships will support an incoming freshman in the 2020 fall semester.

“The students that contributed to these gifts are among the most engaged and motivated at the University, but this goes above and beyond,” said Eric Atkinson, associate vice president of student affairs. “Their commitment to UGA will now live far beyond their years on campus and will enrich the University forever.”

Through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program, the UGA Foundation matches—dollar for dollar—any gift in the amount of $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 to establish an endowed, need-based scholarship for undergraduate students. The scholarship is awarded within a year of the donor making their gift, and from that point forward, the endowment grows—increasing the size of the scholarship award over time and helping student after student earn a UGA degree.

“The Panhellenic Council holds service among our four core values, and what better way to make an impact than serving our direct community?” said Jennings Brooks, Panhellenic Council president. “By giving to the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Fund, we are ensuring that our legacy’s impact will go beyond the Panhellenic Community, impacting the University as a whole for years to come.”

Since the matching program’s creation in 2017, over $77 million has been dedicated to need-based aid, with over 330 donors giving to the program. Scholarship recipients also benefit from academic support in the form of tutoring, workshops, academic coaching and more.

“To make the UGA experience more accessible for future generations of Bulldogs is truly special,” said Brennan Cox, UGA Interfraternity Council president. “At the onset of our term, we challenged ourselves to be campus leaders—not just fraternity leaders—and this is our commitment to doing just that.”

As a major component of the Commit to Georgia Campaign’s effort to remove barriers for students, the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program has been a critical element of UGA’s fundraising success over the past two years. To find out how you can contribute to that success, visit give.uga.edu/georgia-commitment.

World Statistics Day and the Commit to Georgia Campaign

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Fun with UGA Stats