FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Nov. 9, 2007
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

Society of Yeager Scholars to increase next class by one student

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University’s Society of Yeager Scholars will increase the size of its next incoming class by one scholar, bringing the total number of incoming 2008 freshman scholars to 12.

John Kinzer, chairman of the program’s finance committee, reported during the October board of directors meeting that through fund-raising success in building the program’s endowments, and with the interest earned on these funds, the Society of Yeager Scholars is in the position to increase the size of its class of 2012 from 11 to 12.

Grant Rice, chairman of the program’s development committee, said the significant increase in donations to the Yeager Scholars program – $1 million over the past 18 months – contributed to the increase in scholars. For the past several years, the program accepted 11 freshmen per year.

The cost to support one Yeager Scholar for the four-year undergraduate honors program is $85,000.

Sharon Davis Shaffer of Columbus, Ohio, a member of the Society of Yeager Scholars board of directors, Yeager Scholar alumna and member of the Yeager Alumni Homecoming Committee, said support of the program was evident when 65 Yeager Scholars and their spouses attended Marshall’s recent homecoming activities.

“Their contributions are a new revenue stream for the SYS program and are part of the reason for the financial success that allows the addition of a 12th scholar,” Shaffer said.

The mission of the Society of Yeager Scholars is to seek out and attract to Marshall University a diverse and talented group of students with outstanding leadership potential.

The Society provides these students a learning environment which will foster that leadership potential and graduate the next generation of leaders with, as its namesake, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, would say, “the right stuff” to make a difference in the world.  The Society of Yeager Scholars is in its 21st year.

For additional information regarding the Society of Yeager Scholars, call Bob Galardi, the program’s director of major gifts, at (304) 696-3336.

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