Recent Gifts Support Scholarships and Expand Access to DePauw

At the heart of DePauw University’s Bold, Gold & You! campaign is a steadfast commitment to ensuring that every qualified student can access a life-changing liberal arts education, regardless of their financial background. This commitment has long inspired generations of alumni and friends to invest in the future by opening doors for students who might otherwise face financial barriers to attendance. Their support has allowed DePauw to secure a place among the most selective and prestigious institutions in the nation, attracting top students who go on to be leaders in their fields.

Now, as part of a landmark $575 million campaign, DePauw is pleased to announce several recent contributions that will make a DePauw education even more affordable than ever. The university celebrates each of these gifts and the early progress they represent toward achieving the fundraising goal of $150 million for student scholarships.

Robert ’77 and Sally Strauss ’74 Krouse have made a gift to further bolster the existing Robert L. & Sarah Krouse Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Krouses have both been ardent supporters of the university through extensive financial partnership as well as Sally’s current service on the Board of Trustees.

Tom O’Neil ’69 has made a gift to establish the Thomas O'Neil Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. O’Neil has made significant contributions to the university over the years, including a generous gift to the Delta Tau Delta Class of 1969 Endowed Scholarship Fund and a term on the Alumni Board from 2002 through 2008.

Greg Sissel ’94 has given in support of the Gregory and Therese Sissel Endowed Scholarship Fund. This gift is one of many contributions the Sissels have made toward recent university initiatives, including the Roy O. West Library renovation and the Rector Scholarship. Greg also joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 and currently serves as its chair.

Kyle Lanham ’79 has contributed to the Lanham Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, expanding its reach and impact to serve future students. Additionally, Lanham has generously supported the Fund for DePauw, and he has served on several boards and committees, including the Board of Trustees since 2007.

Brent ’89 and Casey Cornelsen `90 St. John have established the John F. and Barbara Koepke Cornelsen Memorial Scholarship Fund. The St. Johns have also supported the Cornelsen Charitable Foundation for Career Preparation and the Roy O. West Library renovation. Brent has served on the Board of Trustees since 2013.

These gifts, totalling $2.4 million, reinforce DePauw’s commitment to affordability while also helping to establish the foundation for The DePauw Promise — a milestone in the life of the university that ensures every incoming student will have 100 percent of their calculated need met through scholarships, grants, work study and student loans. With financial aid playing an increasingly important role in many prospective students’ college decision process, these developments are crucial to DePauw’s ability to attract and retain tomorrow’s leaders.

“Every investment in scholarships at DePauw has a direct impact on the lives of our students,” said Mary Beth Petrie, vice president for enrollment management. “The generosity of our friends and alumni has always been a hallmark of the DePauw community, and these recent gifts carry that legacy forward in a powerful way.”

DePauw University celebrates each of these gifts, as well as the generous families and individuals who have made them possible.