About VU

Giving Changed My Life

Alexander Jones

When Don Fontana, minister of music at the Crystal Cathedral and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church, died in 2000, his wife Marilyn wanted to "do something special" in his memory, so she set up an endowed scholarship for music majors at Vanguard. This year, the Don Fontana Music Scholarship gave its first award of $500.

"I wanted to make it possible for someone to have an advantage in the church music field," Marilyn Fontana says. "The reason I [chose] Vanguard in particular is that I’m so impressed with the faculty and students and the school itself. I feel the heart is in the right place." The word "endowment" sometimes brings to mind wealthy benefactors like Andrew Carnegie and Bill Gates, but many friends of Vanguard are finding endowed scholarships to be a meaningful way to memorialize and honor loved ones.

"Anyone can set up a scholarship to honor the legacy of a VU alum or friend," says Sandy Wilson, executive director of development. "You start by giving $1,000 to open the scholarship, and build the fund to a minimum of $10,000 within five years at which time it reaches endowed status. Then awards can be given annually."

Endowed scholarships are a significant and growing part of Vanguard’s extensive system of scholarships and institutional aid. More than 90 percent of VU students rely on some sort financial help, and endowed scholarships help the university recruit excellent students regardless of their economic background. Endowed scholarships also continue the legacy and work of people for whom they are named.

"It was a simple thing to set up the endowment," says Fontana."Church music was Don’s life for such a long time, and I hope[this scholarship] will encourage a dedicated Christian musician each year that it’s given." This year so far, four new scholarships have reached endowed status: the Beverly Jean Dukette Scholarship, established in memory of VU alumna Jeanie Beechan-Dukette, for students pursuing elementary education teaching; the William J. Seymour Scholarship, which provides scholarships for African-American or Hispanic students; the Don Fontana Music Scholarship established in memory of Don Fontana for anticipating a leadership-oriented career in music education music ministries; and the Norma Willson Voice Scholarship established in honor of alumna Norma (Benjamin) Willson,students pursuing voice studies.

VU now has 36 endowed scholarships which cover a wide of students from those seeking careers in education and business, to those serving foreign missions. The Vision plan laid out by President Dempster calls on the university grow its endowment to $10 million by the year 2010.