10/28/98
News directors, editors: A photograph of Will Konneker is available
at: http://www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/konneker1.jpg
A photograph of Will and Ann Lee Konneker with Ohio University
President Robert Glidden at center is at: http://www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/konneker2.jpg
ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University alumni Will and Ann Lee Konneker announced today they are donating a total of $6.25 million to Ohio University to endow 19 new undergraduate scholarships, providing students with tuition, room and board and stipends for summer travel and structured programs.
The scholarships are part of the undergraduate Manasseh Cutler Scholars Program, which was founded in 1995 and modeled after Oxford University's Rhodes Scholars program for graduate students.
The Konnekers announced a gift of $1.2 million in addition to designating their pledge of $5 million that will be awarded to the university as an estate gift.
"Will and Ann Lee Konneker have once again demonstrated their loyalty to Ohio University, their belief in higher education and their commitment to helping deserving students," said President Robert Glidden. "We are grateful to them for their wonderful generosity and for their continuing support of Ohio University's Cutler Scholars Program, which is designed to produce leaders of the future."
Each individual Cutler scholarship requires an endowment of $200,000. The new scholarships are designated for the following locations:
In addition to the scholarships, the Konnekers designated $1 million for an endowment to maintain the Konneker Alumni Center. In 1981, they donated $200,000 to purchase the former Grosvenor House on University Terrace and convert it to the center.
"The Manasseh Cutler Scholars Program reflects the vision of Will Konneker and his conviction that the institutions of society desperately need transformational leadership," said Charles J. Ping, university president emeritus and executive director of the Cutler Scholars program. "The strength of the program and its rapid development are the product of the dedication of Will and Ann Lee Konneker -- and many others -- to the nurturing of such leadership in the lives of Ohio University students."
Will Konneker completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics in 1943 and a master's degree in physics in 1947 at Ohio University. He has held numerous positions on university boards, including chairman of the 1978-80 1804 Fund campaign, co-chair of the 1989-93 Third Century Campaign and chair of the National Alumni Association.
An honorary alumna of the university, Ann Lee attended Ohio University and completed a bachelor's degree at Ohio State University in 1946. She assisted in the restoration of the Konneker Alumni Center, received the university's Baker Award in 1998 and has been an active participant in university fundraising campaigns, alumni events and other university activities.
In 1992, Will Konneker created the yearly scholarships at Greenfield-McClain High School, paving the way for the creation of the Cutler Scholars Program.
Prospective Cutler Scholars are nominated by personnel at selected high schools or by members of university alumni chapters. A local committee of alumni and friends of the university reviews nominations and the top two candidates are interviewed on the Athens campus by the Cutler Scholars Selection Committee.
In addition to the Konneker scholarships announced today, there are currently 13 Cutler Scholars studying on campus and an additional six endowments for future Cutler Scholars.
The scholarship program is named for Manasseh Cutler, cofounder of Ohio University, for whom the main university administration building, Cutler Hall, is named.
The Konnekers have contributed more than $9.5 million to Ohio University.
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