Scholarship Spotlight: How Ross Donors Pave the Way for Future Business Leaders
At Michigan Ross, every gift fuels opportunities for students to learn, grow, and become leaders who make a real difference in the world. By supporting scholarships and hands-on experiences, donors and alumni enable Ross students to pursue their goals and further their potential, regardless of their financial background.
Since the launch of the Look to Michigan Ross Campaign, more than 40 new scholarship funds have been established, raising over $180 million for student support. These scholarships enable the next generation of leaders the chance to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as internships and other special opportunities, without worrying about how they are going to cover the cost. Highlighted below are examples of funds that are benefiting students.
The Fenton Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
Thanks to the support of Frederic Fenton, BBA ’97, and Amy Fenton, the Fenton Family Endowed Scholarship Fund helps undergraduate Ross students gain access to life-changing business education. This scholarship takes some of the financial pressure off promising BBA students, giving them the freedom to focus on learning, participating in the Ross community, and shaping their future as leaders. The Fenton family’s generosity is a practical boost for students to reach their full potential.
The Beckman Family Summer Fund
Hillary and Andrew Beckman are making a big difference for undergraduates at Michigan Ross through the Beckman Family Summer Fund, which supports BBA students as they pursue summer internships through Business+Impact. This fund opens the door for students to apply their business skills in meaningful ways, with a preference for students who pursue opportunities to gain practical experience in sustainability, education, and health. As the Beckmans put it, “We hope that this fund will provide students with the opportunity to engage deeply with communities, tackle pressing social challenges, and discover how business acumen can drive progress and equity in the world.” Their generosity helps Ross students take what they learn out into the world, turning knowledge and passion into real change.
The Peter C. and Carolyn P. Mertz Graduate Award Fund
In 2007, Peter Mertz, MBA ’81, and Carolyn Mertz established a fund to support students in the MBA/MS dual-degree program through the Erb Institute, the University of Michigan’s business sustainability partnership between the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). Recently, the Mertzes expanded upon the considerable impact they have already made on graduate students by establishing the Peter and Carolyn Mertz Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.
Every day, all over the Ross campus, philanthropy is making a positive impact. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the generosity of alumni towards current students, who can follow their predecessors’ footsteps into the business world, thanks to scholarship support.
