With every initiative they support, every gift they give, Edelmans goal is to make a positive, measurable impact on the lives of others
Thousands of students all over the world have incredible academic talents, however, only a few succeed in turning these ideas into reality. The major difference between students who succeed in achieving their dreams and those who are stuck behind is finance. It’s common to see when a talent quits only because of the financial crisis, but not more, not at least with the students of Rowan University. Ric and Jean Edelman recently announced a $10 million gift to fund scholarships for students in the College of Communication & Creative Arts.
With every initiative they support, every gift they give, Ric and Jean Edelman have a singular goal: to make a positive, measurable impact on the lives of others. The gift is the largest single gift for scholarships in Rowan University’s history. Earlier, the Edelmans, founders of Edelman Financial Engines, have pledged more than $36 million to Rowan since 2002. While the Edelmans have made many gifts to the University, this is the first to provide funding directly to students, Jean notes.
As the largest single endowed student scholarship, Rowan University’s students selected as Edelman Scholars will be eligible for funding from the new Edelman Professional Fund. The donation aims to support both merit and need-based academic scholarships for students pursuing careers in the fields of communication and creative arts. The stipend would be used for conference travel, workshops, and other professional development opportunities.
Focused on student success
To help students get the most from their college experience, the gift will help CCCA, and attract more top-notch students seeking communication careers. The Edelmans understand how difficult it is for students to pay for college and their endowment speaks volumes about their commitment to providing opportunities to students, based both on merit and need.
Supporting creative endeavors
Their gift to CCCA focuses to help talented, driven students as they pursue careers in writing, art, radio/television/film, public relations, sports communication, and related disciplines. Creativity and communication matter. Jean Edelman says, “Our experience at Rowan gave us the foundation to succeed in our career. We are grateful and want to help today’s students have the same opportunity for success.”
Opening doors
The $10 million endowments to CCCA aim to assist students who have the talent and drive to succeed, but who lack the resources to pay for college.
“It’s important for our students to have opportunities outside of class,” Sanford Tweedie says. “It helps them to gain a better understanding of the profession they have chosen and helps us increase the visibility of our college.”
