Campus Connection

Gift will fund scholarships The largest estate gift ever given to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will fund student scholarships. The Theodore A. and Lillian C. George Trust and Estate has bequested $1.69 million to UW-La Crosse. The gift will generate approximately $65,000 in new scholarships for university students each year beginning in fall 2012. “This unexpected, generous gift comes at an ideal time as we look to expand our scholarship program that helps so many needy and deserving UW-L students,”?says Al Trapp, President of the UW-L?Foundation. “The gift is a great example of how people can have such a lasting impact on an institution they love.” Lillian Clark George, earned a degree in teaching from UW-L in 1935. The lifetime member of the UW-L?Alumni Association was a regular donor to the UW-L Foundation. She and her husband moved to Napa Valley, Calif., after retiring from careers in Washington, D.C. Lillian died in 2003; Theodore died April 30, 2010. The remainder of their estate was spilt between their alma maters — UW-L and The Catholic University of America, where Theodore earned a bachelor’s degree. “We are very excited and thankful for this thoughtful gift from such a generous alum,” says Chancellor Joe Gow. “UW-La Crosse obviously had a large impact on Lillian. We’re grateful that she showed her gratitude for receiving a quality college education at UW-L by helping students here for generations. We anticipate that her generosity will inspire others to ‘pay it forward’ too.” The gift adds to the UW-L Foundation’s Scholarship generous program that typically awards more than $500,000 in scholarships to UW-L students annually. Find out more about the UW-L Foundation.