NEWS RELEASE
April 29, 2013
CONTACT Damita Chambers University Relations and Marketing
301-860-4311 office | 301-832-2628 mobile
Edward St. John Foundation Funds Scholarship at Bowie State University
$250,000 Endowment to Support Students in Business, Mathematics
(Bowie, Md.) – April 29, 2013 – The Edward St. John Foundation has completed a $125,000 donation to Bowie State University to support the Edward St. John Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Edward St. John, founder and chairman of the Baltimore-based St. John Properties, Inc., presented a check to Bowie State University President Mickey L. Burnim today to officially recognize the donation. In addition, the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Private Donation Incentive Program contributed funds to expand the endowment to $250,000.
“The Edward St. John Scholarship Fund is just another example of how Bowie State University is partnering with private businesses to increase retention and graduation rates among students and to promote education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines,” said President Burnim. “We are grateful for the leadership of Edward St. John and his foundation for investing in the future of students at Bowie State University.”
The scholarship fund is one of the largest endowed funds established by a Maryland company at Bowie State University. The endowment provides an annual scholarship to be awarded based on merit and financial need to a full-time BSU undergraduate student majoring in business administration or mathematics with a concentration in the dual degree program of mathematics and engineering.
Don Lewis, Jr., a recent BSU graduate, is the 2012 recipient of the Edward St. John Endowed Scholarship. “The scholarship provided the bulk of the financial fuel to get me across the finish line marked with the words Bachelor of Business Administration, with a concentration in accounting. I am fortunate to be a recipient of the scholarship, which is helping to repaint the picture of the future of our society where people like me can rise above the odds and make a difference,” he said.
“The Edward St. John Foundation is committed to promoting education in areas where we do business because we believe that education has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and eradicate poverty,” said Edward St. John. “Bowie State University is doing a great job of providing access to a high-quality education.”
Through his foundation, St. John Properties and individual donations, St. John has contributed, pledged and gifted more than $50 million to a variety of not-for-profit organizations in communities where his firm does business. St. John was named 2012 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the Maryland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
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