First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
First and Focused - College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
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Frey Foundation Makes Leadership Gift to Launch <strong>First</strong> Gen<br />
Scholarships are essential to make <strong>Saint</strong> <strong>John's</strong> accessible<br />
to first-generation students. Jim Frey ’78, immediate past<br />
Chair <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Regents, agrees: The Frey Foundation<br />
made a $2.5 million challenge grant to SJU’s <strong>First</strong> Gen Scholarship<br />
Program.<br />
Jim Frey knows a great deal about accessibility—<strong>of</strong> a different<br />
kind. He was injured in high school <strong>and</strong> became wheelchairbound.<br />
In a <strong>Saint</strong> <strong>John's</strong> Magazine interview in 2007, he recalled<br />
that SJU was not wheelchair-accessible when he visited as a<br />
prospective Johnnie.<br />
Don LeMay, OSB, director <strong>of</strong> admission at the time, accompanied<br />
Frey on his tour <strong>of</strong> campus. He said he wanted to know<br />
how he could make the campus more hospitable to students<br />
with disabilities, whether or not Frey chose SJU. As they toured,<br />
Fr. Don noted any changes needed, such as curb cuts, to make<br />
the campus more accessible. Frey did choose SJU, <strong>and</strong> when he<br />
arrived for school, the changes had been made.<br />
Frey remembers this as an excellent example <strong>of</strong> <strong>Benedict</strong>ine<br />
hospitality. “<strong>Saint</strong> John’s decided ‘Well, we’ll make it work because<br />
we should, not because we have to.’”<br />
The late Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president emeritus, was the first<br />
to broach the idea <strong>of</strong> a first-generation scholarship program with<br />
Frey. Br. Dietrich recognized that enrollment pressures made it<br />
important to recruit first-generation students, but he also felt that it<br />
was simply the right thing to do because SJU had a special connection<br />
to first-generation students. <strong>Saint</strong> <strong>John's</strong> was founded to<br />
provide an education to the children <strong>of</strong> German immigrants in the<br />
area, all <strong>of</strong> whom were first-generation college students.<br />
Almost twice as many new first-generation students as other<br />
students say they have “major” concerns about their ability to<br />
pay for their education. And for good reason. The average firstgeneration<br />
student in the fall <strong>of</strong> 2009 could afford to pay less<br />
than 15 percent <strong>of</strong> the total cost <strong>of</strong> a college education.<br />
“When Br. Dietrich <strong>and</strong> I started talking about the <strong>First</strong> Gen<br />
initiative, my immediate reaction was, ‘This is a great idea,'"<br />
says Frey. “The time was ripe to establish a leadership gift.<br />
Looking at the demographics <strong>of</strong> the school, it was very appealing.<br />
As a foundation, this was a pretty easy decision. It’s<br />
the best use <strong>of</strong> money to address the long-term health <strong>of</strong> <strong>Saint</strong><br />
John’s <strong>and</strong> to do the right thing <strong>of</strong> creating opportunity for firstgeneration<br />
students.<br />
"We began to think about how to leverage the gift <strong>and</strong> decided<br />
that it would be best for it to be a match. The double-match<br />
strategy that <strong>Saint</strong> John’s has conceived provides significant<br />
leverage.<br />
"Our family foundation is delighted to be able to make this<br />
leadership gift, <strong>and</strong> we are certain that others will join in to create<br />
a large-enough fund to make an education at SJU a reality<br />
for a good number <strong>of</strong> first-generation students."<br />
The Frey<br />
Foundation made<br />
a leadership gift to<br />
support the <strong>First</strong> Gen<br />
initiative at <strong>Saint</strong> John’s.<br />
Pictured here with Jim<br />
Frey ’78 are his wife,<br />
Mary White Frey, CSB ’80,<br />
<strong>and</strong> parents, gene <strong>and</strong><br />
Mary Frey.