UConn Foundation Announces Best Fundraising Year

UConn Foundation

2 min read

STORRS, CT. – The UConn Foundation recorded the highest fundraising total in its history for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020. Supporters contributed $89.5 million in new gifts and commitments to support UConn’s academic, research, and public service missions across all campuses and UConn Health.

“The UConn Foundation is proud to announce our most successful year yet. More than 18,000 alumni and friends invested in UConn’s future. In a year with significant economic challenges and the COVID-19 global public health crisis, this fundraising milestone is a testament to the dedication, vision, and immense generosity of UConn Nation,” said Scott M. Roberts, president and CEO of the UConn Foundation.

Fundraising increased 25 percent, rising from $71.4 million in fiscal 2019 to $89.5 million in fiscal 2020. In total, 18,401 alumni and friends made donations.

“UConn Nation made this fundraising achievement possible. Every gift contributes to UConn’s excellence and prominence. Philanthropic support underpins student success and helps drive innovation, research, and discoveries that have the potential to improve lives. We appreciate the incredible forethought and dedication of all our donors especially during these challenging times,” said John Malfettone ’77 (BUS), chair of the UConn Foundation Board of Directors.

A $1.4 million increase in dollars for scholarships and fellowships will boost the need- and merit-based support available for UConn students. Donations for scholarships and fellowships rose from $21.7 million in fiscal 2019 to $23.1 million in fiscal 2020. Since 2015, the UConn Foundation has raised $145.9 million for student support.

“We are deeply grateful for the passionate support of UConn’s alumni and friends. Philanthropy is more critical today than it has ever been. Scholarships and fellowships for our students provide them with vital support that keeps a UConn education within reach—especially for students from underrepresented populations, low-income households, and families experiencing financial challenges because of COVID-19 and the economic downturn,” said Thomas Katsouleas, president of UConn.

A significant rise in support for UConn Health will directly benefit patient care programs, life-saving research, and academic programs in medicine, dental medicine, and graduate studies. Donations increased from $6.7 million in fiscal 2019 to $15.9 million in fiscal 2020.

Support for the Division of Athletics totaled $26.4 million, rising 84 percent year over year. The increase in giving—which includes a $13.5 million pledged bequest for capital projects from an anonymous donor—will provide support for student-athletes, programs, and facilities.

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

Stanley Black & Decker, Hartford Foundation Donate $100,000 to UConn Health Frontline Workers

Philanthropy

Amphenol Gives $1 million for Accounting Scholarships

Philanthropy

Helping Other First-Generation Students Find Their Way to College

News & Stories

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Reaches Donation Milestone

Suzanne Morrissey

3 min read

Student scholarships, UConn Endowment are big winners in the FY17 totals

The UConn Foundation has raised nearly $72 million in FY17. Over the last three fiscal years, donors to the University have made commitments and gifts totaling $227 million, by far the best three-year period in UConn’s history.

The $71.8 million in new contributions and pledged commitments comes from 22,243 gifts – most of which were less than $1,000. It is noteworthy that the Foundation reached the $70 million threshold without a gift of more than $4 million, evidence of its emerging strength in its mid-level giving tiers. In FY17 there was a 20 percent increase in the number of gifts between $25,000 and $500,000.

The past fiscal year also saw the Foundation surpass the halfway mark on its multi-year hallmark initiative: Transform Lives scholarship initiative. The Foundation publicly launched Transform Lives to raise $150 million for scholarships and student support in January 2015. Adding $22 million for this initiative in FY17 and reaching $77.1 million overall is a major source of pride for donors and staff.

“Our commitment to students who dream of a UConn education but think it is financially out of their reach is strong,” said UConn Foundation President and CEO Joshua R. Newton. “We want every deserving student who wants to be on a UConn campus to have that chance. Reaching this milestone in the Transform Lives initiative shows our donors, alumni, and friends feel the same way. It is inspiring.”

Of the total funds raised last fiscal year, $5.7 million was in support of capital improvements at UConn, $22 million for scholarship and student support, $25.7 million for program support, $7.4 million for faculty support, and $11 million for research. All told, $42 million was designated for current operations and $29.8 million earmarked for the endowment, which now stands at more than $400 million, with an increase of more than 10 percent since the end of the last fiscal year.

Within these totals are some exciting gifts and commitments worth highlighting. They include:

$4 million in support of Environmental Research, the Music Department and Biomedical Engineering
$3 million for Athletics, supporting the Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center
$3 million for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) in support of an endowed professorship in Psychology
$2 million for the School of Social Work supporting scholarships
$2 million for the School of Fine Arts in support of Illustration and Graphic Design
$1.9 million for the Humanities Institute within the CLAS
$1.5 million for the School of Business
$1 million for the School of Business supporting scholarships
$1 million for Athletics in support of baseball
$1 million for the Hartford Regional Campus supporting scholarships

“As chairman of the UConn Foundation Board, I’m proud of the contributions we’ve made to extend UConn’s excellence,” said Dan Toscano. “We must continue to grow the endowment, to partner with donors, and to secure UConn’s future.”

The Foundation has taken bold steps in the last year to strengthen giving on all levels, including the creation of its first-ever Office of Principal Giving, focused on securing transformative gifts, and increasing overall donor count through new methods of engagement with smaller-level donors. With these industry-leading changes and continued support from donors, the University, and the Board of Trustees, the Foundation is well-positioned for a very successful FY18. The fundraising goal for FY18 is $85 million, the largest total for any fiscal year in the UConn Foundation’s history.

“I’ve never been more excited to begin a new fiscal year than I am right now,” Newton said. “Our principal giving program is already producing dividends, and philanthropy will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in moving the University forward. There are great days ahead for UConn Nation.”

“Our generous donors are key to UConn’s continued climb among the finest universities in the nation,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “We see the power of philanthropy every day on our campuses throughout the state. UConn’s donors help scholarship students achieve their dreams and fund vital research university-wide. We are incredibly grateful for their friendship and support. Together we look forward to another successful year.”

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Wins CASE Bronze Circle of Excellence Award

Tiffany Ventura Thiele

< 1 min read

The UConn Foundation’s video featuring UConn student-athlete and cancer survivor Ryan Radue recently received international recognition.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), headquartered in Washington, D.C., with members around the world, awarded a Bronze Circle of Excellence Award in Best Fundraising Video, Long, to the UConn Foundation.

The seven-minute video features the journey of Ryan Radue, a relief pitcher and graduate student, who discovered he had cancer in his knee and neck. The video, produced by Foundation Marketing and Communications staff member Jennifer Huber and filmmaker Jeffrey Teitler, details his battle against cancer while undergoing treatment at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health in Farmington. Now cancer-free, Radue has helped raise support for research and patient care at UConn Health.

“We’re honored that Ryan allowed us to share his courageous story with the world,” said Josh Newton, president and CEO, UConn Foundation. “His perseverance in fighting this deadly disease has been an inspiration to us all. While we’re honored to receive this award, it is most important that people hear Ryan’s story of strength and survival.”

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving more than 3,670 universities, colleges, schools, and related organizations in more than 82 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of education fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.

Watch Ryan’s story here or support the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center here.

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Welcomes Nine New Members

UConn Health

From Forest Labs to Rare Diseases

Philanthropy

RELEASE: UConn Foundation Board Endorses $150 Million for Scholarships

News & Stories

Alumni Stories

Largest Human Rights Gift to UConn To Provide Scholarships, Build Endowment

Grace Merritt

3 min read

Philanthropist George Soros and UConn alumnus Gary Gladstein ’66 with his wife, Dr. Phyllis Gladstein, announced a $4 million gift to the UConn Human Rights Institute, the largest donation to the internationally renowned program.

The gift, which requires the UConn Foundation to raise an additional $2 million in matching funds, would give the Institute a $6 million endowment and provide scholarships to undergraduates majoring in human rights.

“The vision and generosity of our donors continues to make an incredible impact on this program and is helping to make UConn a global leader in human rights education and scholarship,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “We could not be more grateful to both Gary Gladstein and George Soros for their support and commitment to our university and the field of human rights.”

The Institute, with its interdisciplinary focus, is one of the top human rights programs in higher education worldwide. Faculty members are drawn from most schools and colleges across the university, including anthropology, political science, business, and law. The program has a strong focus on collaborative research and scholarship. The Institute has a rapidly growing student population and its graduates have landed key humanitarian jobs.

a photo of uconn students on an internship in guatemala — UConn Students on a human rights internship in Guatemala.

“I was a child in Hungary when the Nazis invaded. I then lived under Soviet rule, so I know what it is like to live under brutal regimes that deprive people of their basic human rights,” Soros said. “I am pleased to support UConn’s critical work in researching and promoting human rights. I am glad to partner with Gary to help build UConn’s program.”

Gladstein, who has been the Institute’s primary benefactor, is giving the Institute a gift of $2 million. Soros, a businessman, philanthropist, and political activist, has pledged to give a $2 million challenge grant. Soros’s grant is through the Open Society Foundations, his grant-making network dedicated to building democracies with accountable and open governments.

Soros’s grant requires the UConn Foundation to raise an additional $2 million in matching funds from donors. Once completed, the $6 million endowment will provide scholarships, fellowships, internships, and program support for signature programs, such as the Scholars-at-Risk Initiative.

Gladstein said he was pleased to partner with Soros, a friend and colleague who first raised his awareness of the vital importance of human rights.

“All civilizations must learn to share and respect the human rights of others,” Gladstein said. “The true differences around the world are not between different religions or races, but more about those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it. We can all do much better when we work together.”

“These gifts are transformative because they provide us with a financial foundation that we haven’t had before,” said Dan Weiner, UConn’s vice provost for global affairs.

The Institute is a leader in human rights education and scholarship. It has the largest number of undergraduates studying human rights in the U.S. with 80 students majoring and 55 minoring in human rights. Another 35 participate in the Institute’s graduate certificate program.

“On Martin Luther King Day, as we celebrate a man who stood for civil rights and justice, it is a fitting time to announce a gift that will strengthen UConn’s own commitment to human rights,” said Joshua R. Newton, president and CEO of the UConn Foundation.

The Institute’s cross-disciplinary research teams of faculty and graduate students focus on three distinct areas: economic and social rights, humanitarianism, and global health and human rights.

“This gift will sustain cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scholarship on human rights at the University of Connecticut,” Institute Director Kathryn Libal said.

Program graduates have gone on to hold positions at leading universities and in the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International USA, AmeriCares, and Jewish World Watch.

“We are educating the next generation of human rights scholars, teachers, and practitioners,” Weiner said.

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

UConn Receives $1M Gift and Match Challenge for Human Rights Institute

The Business of Human Rights

Alumni Stories

UConn Mourns Loss of Alum Ray Neag, Largest Benefactor

News & Stories

Philanthropy

RELEASE: West Haven physician stars in statewide campaign promoting UConn scholarships

Jennifer Doak-Mathewson

3 min read

WNPR spots part of effort to double amount raised for scholarships over next five years.

Jan. 27 – Serving as a physician for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven since 1992, Dr. Lindsay Schine is about to gain statewide recognition as part of the UConn Foundation’s efforts to raise $150 million over the next five years for scholarships and fellowships. Dr. Schine, a 1989 graduate from the UConn School of Medicine, will be featured on WNPR radio spots beginning Feb. 2. The reoccurring segments will run for a six-week period and describe how scholarships have helped to transform her life.

“I am truly honored for the opportunity to share my story on WNPR,” said Dr. Schine. “Receiving a scholarship to UConn changed my life. I am eternally grateful for all the opportunities it has provided me. I hope my story will inspire others to invest in scholarships so UConn can continue to attract the best and brightest students.”

Since receiving her MD from the UConn School of Medicine in 1989, Dr. Schine has gone on to enjoy a successful 25-year career practicing medicine. Now she feels it’s her turn to give back to the University that has given her so much. In 2014, Dr. Schine and her husband Michael established the Lindsay Schine and Michael Klingher Fellowship Fund, which provides financial support for students in the UConn School of Medicine.

“We are grateful to have supporters like Dr. Schine and her husband Michael Klingher who’ve shown their commitment for providing deserving students with financial resources to pursue their dreams,” said Josh Newton, President of the UConn Foundation. “In order for UConn to continue its tremendous growth, it is vital that we increase our funding for scholarships.”

Over the past five years, the UConn Foundation has raised an average of $15.6 million annually for student support and scholarships. In total, the University offers aid to more than 10,000 students each year. The new initiative calls for the Foundation to increase the amount raised for scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships to $30 million annually.

“The Foundation’s initiative will not only help UConn attract students, but it will also combat student debt levels after graduation,” said Newton. “Right now 83 percent of UConn undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Scholarships truly are transforming lives.”

The average student loan debt at UConn for 2013 graduates was $24,600—nearly 20 percent lower than the national average ($30,000) for students at private and public institutions.

Coleman B. Levy, chairman of the Board of the UConn Foundation, said, “Our mission at the Foundation is to ensure that UConn not only remains competitive with other nationally ranked universities but that we are a leader in terms of affordability and accessibility. The marketing campaign will play an important role in raising awareness and motivating people to give.”

The Foundation’s student support initiative comes at a time when UConn has risen dramatically in stature. It currently ranks No. 19 on the U.S. News & World Report list of the nation’s top public research universities. Investment in facilities and faculty has played a key role in UConn’s ascent, enabling the University to attract greater numbers of high-caliber students. In recent years, each incoming freshman class has exceeded the previous one in academic accomplishment. This year’s freshman class has an average SAT score of 1234, the highest in UConn history.

Last year the UConn Foundation received philanthropic gifts and commitments totaling $81.1 million, a 23 percent increase over the preceding year and the highest level of giving in the 50-year history of the UConn Foundation.

“In Other Business: Schine to Promote UConn Foundation Scholarship Efforts,” New Haven Register, Jan. 31, 2015

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Philanthropy

New Haven Promise Sends More Freshmen to UConn

Foundation & University News

RELEASE: Hall H.S. Valedictorian Stars in Conn. Scholarship Campaign

Foundation & University News

Shari and Michael Cantor Give to UConn to Support Connecticut’s Future

News & Stories

Foundation & University News

RELEASE: Longtime Donors to UConn School of Pharmacy Receive Unique Honor

Jennifer Doak-Mathewson

2 min read

Lab and conference room at the School of Pharmacy named for three donors who made gifts to support research and teaching

Several longtime donors to the University of Connecticut are receiving a unique honor for their contributions to the School of Pharmacy. UConn’s Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the naming of two academic spaces inside the School of Pharmacy for three donors who have helped strengthen research and teaching at the school.

The spaces will be named to recognize major gifts made by Dr. Lois Ann Reynolds ‘74 along with Roger G. Stoll, Ph.D ’73 and his wife Kathleen Stoll ’68, ’69, each of whom has made significant contributions in the past year. Dr. Reynolds will have a conference room in the School of Pharmacy named in her honor. To recognize Dr. and Mrs. Stoll, a laboratory has been named to honor Roger’s parents, Gerhard and Irmgard Stoll.

“We are incredibly grateful to have alumni like Dr. Reynolds and Dr. and Mrs. Stoll, who have continued to give back to the UConn School of Pharmacy,” said UConn Foundation President Josh Newton. “Their commitment to supporting our faculty and graduate level research will help to ensure the School of Pharmacy has the tools and resources needed for success. I am very pleased the Board of Trustees has decided to name a laboratory and conference room in their honor.”

Currently residing in Osprey, Florida, the Stolls have been supporters of the UConn School of Pharmacy for 25 years. During his career, which spans more than 35 years, Dr. Stoll has held leadership positions with biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies including Bayer AG, the Upjohn Company, and American Hospital Supply.

In 2012 and 2014, the couple donated funds to the School of Pharmacy and most recently established the Stoll Fund for Graduate Education in Pharmaceutical Sciences. This fund will support research conducted by graduate students in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which will include the purchasing of supplies and laboratory equipment for the School of Biotechnology and Bioservices Center.

A 1974 graduate from the UConn School of Pharmacy, Dr. Reynolds resides in Owings Mills, Md., where she has worked as a clinical pharmacist and pharmacy educator at Johns Hopkins Hospital for over 34 years. While attending UConn, she was a member of the marching band. Today she is a devoted fan of UConn Women’s Basketball and a member of the UConn Foundation’s Founders Society, which honors generous benefactors for their leadership and vision for changing people’s lives for the better.

In 1978, Dr. Reynolds began making contributions to the University of Connecticut, directing her gifts toward the Henry A. Palmer Professorship in Community Pharmacy.

This year, Dr. Reynolds established the Lois A. Reynolds, Pharm. D. Endowed Fund. This fund will provide program enhancements for the School of Pharmacy, specifically to meet the needs of the school’s Henry A. Palmer Endowed Professor. In addition, this fund will support educational enhancements and activities in the area of pharmacy.
“Personally, it is important for me that the UConn School of Pharmacy is able to maintain its ranking as a top-tier school. To do so, it’s imperative that we have the funds necessary for the best faculty, facilities and equipment,” Reynolds said. “I would not be where I am today without the University of Connecticut and the guidance of Dr. Henry Palmer. It is my honor to contribute to the next generation of UConn students working to become part of my profession.”

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Alumni Stories

UConn Mourns Loss of Alum Ray Neag, Largest Benefactor

Foundation & University News

Honoring Richard L. Schwab ’79 MA, ’81 Ph.D

Foundation & University News

Shari and Michael Cantor Give to UConn to Support Connecticut’s Future

News & Stories

Philanthropy

UConn Foundation Launches $150 Million Student Support Initiative

Jennifer Doak-Mathewson

< 1 min read

The Board of Directors of the UConn Foundation endorsed a five-year, $150 million fundraising initiative last week that will double the amount of financial support—including merit and need-based scholarships—that the Foundation raises for the benefit of the UConn student body.

Foundation President Josh Newton said the funds, which will include merit and need-based scholarships, will be necessary to ensure that financial aid is available for a student body that is expected to grow by 6,580 students — a 30 percent increase — over the next decade.

“As we add all these students, the burden on the state budget to continue to provide for financial aid is tough,” Newton said. “I think philanthropy can and will play an increasingly important role in making UConn affordable and accessible.”

Read the full article in The Hartford Courant as well as the Foundation’s press release to learn more about this exciting new initiative.

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Reaches Donation Milestone

Philanthropy

RELEASE: UConn Foundation Board Endorses $150 Million for Scholarships

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Raises $78 Million in FY 2015, Surpasses Goal

News & Stories

Philanthropy

RELEASE: UConn Foundation Board Endorses $150 Million for Scholarships

Jennifer Doak-Mathewson

2 min read

Five-year plan will double money Foundation raises for scholarships and fellowships, ensure UConn attracts best and brightest

STORRS—On Nov. 7, the Board of Directors of the UConn Foundation endorsed a five-year, $150 million fundraising initiative that will double the amount of financial support—including merit and need-based scholarships—that the Foundation raises for the benefit of the UConn student body.

Over the past five years, the Foundation has raised an average of $15.6 million annually for student support—including scholarships, fellowships and assistantships—helping the University’s efforts to offer aid to more than 10,000 students each year.

The new initiative calls for the Foundation to increase that number to $30 million annually.

“A university’s success is measured by the students it attracts and educates, which today means that growing our financial aid capabilities is more important than ever,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “This initiative by the Foundation’s Board of Directors will help ensure UConn’s status as a destination for the types of talented, ambitious students who are the heart of a great university.”

This ambitious undertaking comes at a pivotal time for UConn, as the number of students applying to the University is approaching 32,200—triple the number of applications in 1995.

UConn is also adding 6,580 students over the course of a decade, an increase of almost 30 percent. Much of the expected increase in enrollment is connected to Next Generation Connecticut, a $1.5 billion state-supported plan to strengthen UConn with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math.

“As UConn adds 30 percent more students over the next decade, the need for scholarship and fellowship support will grow considerably,” said Josh Newton, president of the UConn Foundation. “The UConn Foundation’s $150 million initiative will bring a UConn education within reach of more families and strengthen the University’s standing among top public institutions.”

The Foundation’s initiative will not only help UConn attract and retain students, but also combat student debt levels after graduation. Currently 83 percent of UConn undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. While the average student loan debt at UConn for 2013 graduates was $24,600, that is nearly 20 percent lower than the national average ($30,000) for students at private and public institutions.

“UConn is a great value and we’re proud that on average its students are graduating with less debt than their peers at other schools,” said Coleman Levy, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We must ensure that UConn not only remains competitive with other nationally ranked universities, but that we are a leader in terms of affordability and accessibility.”

The Foundation’s student support initiative comes at a time when UConn has risen dramatically in stature. It currently ranks No. 19 on the U.S. News & World Report list of the nation’s top public research universities.
Investment in facilities and faculty has played a key role in UConn’s ascent, enabling the University to attract greater numbers of high-caliber students. In recent years, each incoming freshman class has exceeded the previous one in academic accomplishment. This year’s freshman class has an average SAT score of 1234, the highest in UConn history.

The student support initiative, which was unanimously endorsed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors at a full board meeting on Friday, Nov. 7, will be officially launched early next year. Last year the UConn Foundation received philanthropic gifts and commitments totaling $81.1 million, a 23 percent increase over the preceding year and the highest level of giving in the 50-year history of the UConn Foundation.

-END-

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Welcomes Nine New Members

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Reaches Donation Milestone

Foundation & University News

UConn Foundation Raises $78 Million in FY 2015, Surpasses Goal

News & Stories

Athletics

UConn Athletics Celebrates Endowed Scholarship Donors

Jennifer Doak-Mathewson

3 min read

Nearly 250 donors, student-athletes, coaches and administrators gathered inside Rome Ballroom in October for the UConn Athletics Annual Endowed Scholarship Dinner. Throughout the evening, which featured a social hour, dinner and speaking program, those in attendance heard about the importance of endowed scholarships on the lives of UConn’s student-athletes and the success of its programs.

“The Endowed Scholarship Dinner is a special night for UConn Athletics,” said Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “Each year I really look forward to this event because it’s a great opportunity for our student-athletes to come face-to-face with and get to know the individuals who support their education. By endowing a scholarship, our donors are providing our student-athletes with a great education, which is a gift that will benefit them for a lifetime. ”

From Latvia to Husky Nation

For women’s track and field standout Saija Bikanova, it was a long journey to Connecticut. Born and raised in the small Eastern European country of Latvia, she never dreamed of one day running track while receiving an education from one of the premiere universities in the United States.

Since arriving on campus nearly four years ago, Bikanova has learned many valuable lessons that go well beyond her time in the classroom and on the track.

“I’ve learned so much about toughness, determination and dedication,” she said. “UConn has brought out the best of me both on the track and in the classroom. It hasn’t always been easy, but I know everything I’ve learned here has prepared me to be successful once I graduate. I am incredibly grateful for everybody here tonight. You have made this UConn experience possible for me and so many of my fellow student-athletes.”

Empowering coaches to recruit champions

Endowed scholarships have an impact on others besides the student-athletes who receive them. For UConn’s coaches, endowed scholarships allow them to continue attracting talented student-athletes from around the world.

“Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program,” said UConn Women’s Hockey Coach Chris MacKenzie. “As our program continues to grow, it’s important that we have the ability to provide scholarships to bring in the best and brightest student-athletes. I think tonight’s Endowed Scholarship Dinner says a great deal about the wonderful support we receive from our donors here at UConn.”

Spirited alumni give back

While endowed scholarships have a direct effect on UConn’s student-athletes and coaches, the ability to make this type of impact is very rewarding for those who invest in scholarships.

Hailing from the heart of UConn Country, Mike Soltys ’81 and his family have a deep connection to the University of Connecticut. For 25 years, his father Joseph worked as the sports information director, then during his time on campus, Mike had the good fortune to meet his wife Teresa, and in recent years two of their children graduated from UConn while their youngest is a senior who’s looking forward to graduating this spring.

“Because of UConn, I have had a great life and a successful career doing what I love — working in the sports industry,” Soltys said. “By endowing a scholarship in my parents’ honor, I have the opportunity to pay tribute to them as we support hard working and talented students who also dream of working in sports one day. Being here tonight is wonderful because we love having the chance to meet the students supported by these scholarships and to see the excitement on their faces.”

For over 20 years, Mike Melio has been a loyal donor to UConn Athletics. During that time, he has supported numerous initiatives, but for him, there is something special about making a gift to support the education of student-athletes.

“It’s all about education, without it we would be nothing,” Melio said. “We have so many wonderful student-athletes representing UConn. Personally, it’s very fulfilling to support these young people academically. I strongly believe we have student-athletes here at the University of Connecticut who will one day go on to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.”

Connect with fellow Huskies

Don't miss out on alumni events and more

Event Calendar

View Past Event Recordings