Anonymous Donor Honors Spouse with Unique Scholarship Endowment In 2016, a generous donor who chose to remain anonymous honored the memory of his late wife by establishing a scholarship endowment that encompasses three distinct academic areas vital to a thriving society: science, education, and family and consumer sciences. Through a gift of stock and a future annuity gift, this scholarship endowment not only honors the legacy of a special UI alumna, but will also positively invest in the lives of students in the years to come. Students pursuing a degree in the Colleges of Science or Education, or the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), are eligible for support through this endowment. “Scholarships like this impact our ability to retain the best students, by providing them with significant financial support,” said Michael Parrella, dean of CALS. “I, along with the other college deans, am so grateful for this tremendous generosity.” For more information about giving, contact Eric Bennett in the College of Science at ebennett@uidaho.edu, Marta McClintock in the College of Education at martam@uidaho.edu, or Jen Root in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at jroot@uidaho.edu.
| | | Gift for Teacher Support Marks Endowment 1,500 at UI Foundation The University of Idaho Foundation marks the creation of its 1,500th endowment, with credit for that milestone number going to the late Shirley A. (Williamson) Wentz, a lifelong Vandal supporter and dedicated educator. Her $25,000 gift to the College of Education established the Shirley A. Wentz Education Scholarship Endowment, supporting future elementary education teachers from Ada and Canyon counties in Idaho. Wentz’s wish was to help future educators enjoy the rewards she received from introducing young readers to the power of books and reading. “It is quite fitting that the 1,500th endowed scholarship would come from Shirley Wentz, lifelong educator and die-hard Vandal,” said Ali Carr-Chellman, dean of UI’s College of Education. “We are so grateful for the help that Shirley’s endowed scholarship provides to our students in the College of Education.” Endowments like the one left by Wentz are invested over the long term to support students, faculty, research and university programs. The 1,500 endowments amount to more than $10.2 million in scholarship and program support distributed each year — and $165 million distributed since 1959. | | | Dairy Industry’s Hispanic Workforce Benefits Communities in South Central Idaho Findings from a recent study conducted by the University of Idaho’s James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research shed new light on the dairy workforce and its benefits to South Central Idaho communities, as well as challenges related to immigration. The study was commissioned by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association and updates a 2009 analysis of how the dairy industry’s workforce impacts communities in Idaho. “Immigration has profound economic and social impacts on communities,” said Priscilla Salant, senior researcher at the McClure Center. “In the case of South Central Idaho, these changes have been largely positive and going on for a generation.” The study found that increasing automation in response to labor shortages and narrow profit margins, along with changing immigration policies and continued integration of immigrants and their children, will influence community well-being in the future. The dairy industry will continue to be a driving force in the region going forward. The full McClure Center study is available at www.uidaho.edu/dairy-workforce-impact-study. | | | | | |
