Alumna gives gift to UNC science programs

UNC's College of Natural Health and Sciences will receive a planned gift from Mary Jo Drew, a University of Northern Colorado alumna. The gift will provide scholarships for science students and contribute toward research.   

The commitment is not a grant, but rather a planned gift," said Denise Battles, the dean of the College of Natural Health and Science. "This means that's it's a commitment in advance to provide a gift that's valued at $1.5 million."

A large portion of the gift will be allocated for growth and retention in the Biological Sciences department. The gift will provide $750,000 to create the Dr. Mary Jo Drew Biological Sciences Professorship, which will endow a distinguished scholar who has an established record. 

The other two areas that the gift will be directed toward are scholarships. An estimated $525,000 will go toward the William J. deAtherage Memorial Scholarship to aid students studying pre-med.   

"We've supported 52 students with gifts, totaling to about $15,000, and we hope to provide more," Battles said. 

The last area the gift will be supplemented toward is the NHS Students Research Fund. The fund was set up in 2006 to award grants to science students in support of their research.

An estimated $225,000 will be provided to allow students to conduct further studies. This includes the opportunity for students to collect field data, do research in labs and allow them to perform research with faculty members. 

"Right now, we're in the building stage of that account and so Dr. Drew's commitment to the Students Research Fund is a very nice indication of support," Battles said.
Drew is a chief medical officer of blood services for the American Red Cross in Portland, Ore.

"We're delighted about her generosity and willingness to make that commitment to help future students on their way," Battles said.