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Centre College Makes History, Announces $250 Million Gift

Centre College

When it comes to financial contributions, there are major gifts--and then there's what happened Tuesday at Centre College.

The private undergraduate school in Danville has announced the largest gift ever given to a liberal arts school in the U.S, and the largest donation ever given to a Kentucky college or university.

The A. Eugene Brockman Charitable Trust is giving Centre $250 million in stock to create the Brockman Scholars Program in Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Forty scholarships will be awarded each year starting in the fall of 2014.

Brockman's son, Bob, attended Centre before finishing his degree at another school.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports the donation ranks among the 20 largest gifts ever given to a U.S. college or university.

Brockman Scholars will pursue degrees in several science-related fields, such as behavioral neuroscience, biology, chemistry, computer science, math, and psychology."First of all, they need to be students who think in creative and innovative ways, and have the ability to influence their peers," said Centre Vice President of College Relations Richard Trollinger. "It will be an academically competitive scholarship, because it will be a full ride."

Trollinger adds the gift from the Brockman Charitable Trust will benefit the school in ways beyond the dollar amount involved.

"What's really exciting about that is that there are young people out there  who yesterday had never heard of Centre College. But they will hear about us now because of this gift."

The Brockman scholarships will  pay for each recipient's tuition, room and board, fees, as well as provide funds for study abroad experiences, summer research opportunities, and internships.

Original post:

Centre College is announcing what they're calling "the largest gift ever made to a liberal arts college."

At a news conference Tuesday morning in Danville, Centre leaders said the school has received $250 million of stock in Universal Computer Systems Holding Inc. from the A. Eugene Brockman Charitable Trust.

Centre President John Roush says the gift will fund 40 Brockman Scholarships each year starting in the fall of 2014. The scholarships will go to students majoring in the natural sciences, computational sciences, and economics.

Recipients will get tuition, room, board, as well as money for study abroad, summer research and internships.

WKU Public Radio has arranged a phone interview with Centre officials later today. We'll bring you stories about the gift throughout our local newscasts Tuesday.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
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