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

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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.

 

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