Advancement Board Chair Report
By Kevin Schofield
It’s been another busy summer at the Labs — tons of research, many classes, and a campus full of students. Just how we like it! And yet we shouldn’t forget how much it costs to run a world-class program like this — as well as the burden it puts upon students to find the money to participate.
The Adopt-a-Student program serves a crucial role in ensuring that deserving students get the opportunity to study at FHL. This year we raised nearly $60,000 to support the program. We provided support for several University of Washington students, as well as others from across the country (including U.C. Berkeley, University of Wisconsin, Yale, and SUNY Stonybrook) and around the world (University of Copenhagen, University of Sydney, and James Cook University).
I shared a meal at the Labs with Jack Koch, the student I helped sponsor this summer (Figure 1). Jack just completed his undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina, and will be starting a Ph.D. program this fall at University of Oregon. He is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to study at Friday Harbor Labs this summer, and sees how unique and special the place is.
We work hard every year to raise the needed funds for this program. It’s near and dear to the hearts of many of us on the Advancement Board, and we pull together and make it happen. But it’s time that we start working on the continuity of the program by building up the Adopt-a-Student Endowment Fund to provide a consistent, long-term source of funds. Flo McAlary has generously sponsored a challenge grant for the endowment, which gives us the chance to grow it even faster. In her own words:
The Adopt-A –Student Program had its origins with the Advancement Board. It is our official, unique AB creation! Our Baby. It comes from our collective dedication to making sure that the brightest minds have access to cutting edge science through world-class courses and projects at FHL. Every year, AB member donations generously support current use funds to make these scholarships happen. Over the years, I keep thinking that each of us has a limited number of years on the board to fulfill that FHL promise, to realize a core AB theme in which we all strongly believe. With that limit in mind, I wanted my contribution to the Adopt-A–Student Program to continue beyond my tenure on the AB, indeed my lifetime.
Last year, I made a contribution to establish the Adopt-A-Student Endowment Fund. I am hoping that others on the AB have a similar sense of dedication. My heart is strong but my means are limited, so I have pledged a second gift to this endowment and will match on a 1:1 basis additional AB donations totaling $25,000.00 (Please note, this challenge should not be a limit on anyone’s generosity, but an inspiration to contribute!)
Our initial goal is to provide at least one AB-sponsored $5,000 student scholarship each year in perpetuity. If we create a matching pool of $50,000 (my gift and additional gifts from the AB), the AB can then launch a matching gift "campaign" to attract another $50,000 from new and existing contributors. This matching pool will match new gifts on a 1:1, first come, first served basis. Once we reach our goal, an additional $100,000 will be invested in the Adopt-a-Student Endowment, raising that total to $125,000 that is sufficient to generate one full award based on current UW spending policies. It will also bring awareness to the student(s) receiving the scholarship funds of the AB, our commitment to FHL, and our investment in them as the next generation of FHL scientists and "alumni."
In our heart’s mindset, we can reach decades beyond, leaving a legacy of an FHL promise fulfilled.
Let’s make this the year where we give the Adopt a Student program a huge boost; please consider helping us support future FHL students by making a matching contribution to the Adopt-a-Student Program's Adopt-a-Student Endowed Fund.
You may contact Rachel Anderson at rachelea@uw.edu to make a contribution and qualify for matching funds. Or click HERE to make a gift.
Jack Koch and Kevin Schofield at the Labs
