Parents and alumni make generous scholarship gifts

Elo

n parents and alumni have made generous scholarship gifts recently to support student-athletes, international study and students with financial need. These gifts will be counted toward the university’s upcoming fundraising campaign to build Elon’s endowment.

Parent Jeff Girdwood of Charlotte, N.C., made a $50,000 gift to establish the Maggie Girdwood Scholarship in honor and in loving memory of his wife, Coleen “Maggie” Girdwood. The scholarship will be awarded to a member of Elon’s baseball team. Maggie was a loving wife, mother and friend who was devoted to her son, Thomas, an Elon sophomore and a member of the Phoenix baseball team.

Parents Malcolm L. and Julie McAllister of Greensboro, N.C., have made a gift to establish the Donathan–McAllister Endowed Scholarship, which will assist students with financial need. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate a commitment to Elon’s mission of developing the “mind, body and spirit” of each student. The couple’s son, Parker, a senior, came to Elon in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, forcing Tulane University to close temporarily just as Parker was preparing to enroll there.

The scholarship fund is named in honor of Parker’s family and Jim Donathan, Elon’s associate director of academic advising and director of academic support. Donathan was one of the family’s first contacts at Elon. The couple wanted to give something back to the university to show their appreciation for Donathan’s kindness, compassion and tenacity, which led to Parker enrolling at Elon.

Enabling additional students to pursue international study was the inspiration behind a $25,000 gift from parents Gordon C. and Sandra Russell of Wellesley, Mass. The Russell Family Study Abroad Endowment will assist students who might not otherwise be able to afford to study abroad. The couple are the parents of Buck ’08 and Jonathan, an incoming freshman. The Russells operate a successful chain of “In the Pink, Inc.” stores throughout Massachusetts.

Members and friends of the Class of 1969 have contributed more than $25,000 toward an endowed scholarship fund to make an Elon education available to additional talented students. The scholarship will be awarded to incoming or current students who are relatives of members of the Class of 1969. The scholarship fundraising efforts have been led by Amy Hendrickson ’69 and Ken Scott ’69.