Fort Lewis College announced a $70,000 gift from Nathine Senne, which will go toward the Richard A. Senne Memorial Scholarship fund that she and her late husband, Herbert, established in 1978 to honor their son.
Richard Senne was a 1973 Fort Lewis College chemistry graduate who died in 1978 from Leukemia.
To qualify for the scholarship, a student must be a junior or senior chemistry student. There is an online application process that includes an essay section, where students are asked to describe their strong moral character and share their professional goals.
Sandy Jameson, scholarship manager, said the amount of money a student can receive varies year to year.
“An average amount is about $1,000, but it could be a little bit more or less,” she said. “In the past, I’ve seen students be awarded $2,000.”
Typically, one student per year receives the scholarship, but at times, two have received it, Jameson said.
“The department awards the scholarship, and if they see two qualified students who both have financial needs, they could take the amount and split it in half,” she said.
Mark Jastorff, vice president for advancement, said the Richard A. Senne Memorial Scholarship has changed the lives of students over the years.
“Lives have been touched because of folks like the Sennes. It is hard to overestimate the impact scholarships have on providing opportunities for students,” he said. “It has been 40 years, so for the family to come back now and add to that scholarship is really a testament to their love for helping people.”
mrupani@durangoherald.com
