PHILANTHROPY New scholarships help recruit top students

Scholarship funds allow Rollins to compete with other leading schools of public health in attracting the brightest and most committed students. Rollins is grateful to two generous couples who have established new endowments to support outstanding students.

Jeffrey P. Alperin and Bernardine Brandis have established the Jeff Alperin and Bernardine Brandis Scholarship Endowment in honor of Jeff’s uncle, M.B. (“Bud”) Seretean and Jeff’s mother, Phyllis Alperin, Bud Seretean’s sister. Seretean was an early supporter of the Rollins School of Public Health and a founding member of the Rollins Dean’s Council. He endowed the M.B. Seretean Scholarship which is awarded annually to a student in the Executive MPH program. Jeff and Bernardine were introduced to the school at the dedication of the M.B. Seretean Center for Health Promotion in 1998 and reconnected with Emory when their daughter Hayley Alperin became an Emory student. Hayley graduated from Emory College in May.

“Hayley had a wonderful experience at Emory,” says Alperin. “She was fully stimulated by her class work, made great friends, and engaged in many campus activities. She leaves with an outstanding education and lifelong memories!”

Rajan Sharad Patel, PhD, 06G, and Kinnery Naik Patel, 06MPH, have established the Patel Naik Family Scholarship in Biostatistics to support outstanding PhD students or second-year MPH students in biostatistics, with a preference for those interested in pursuing a PhD. The gift was made in honor of their parents.

“Rollins was not only the place Kinnery and I met, but it was the place that helped each of us get started on the career path that we were passionate about,” says Rajan. “Many of the people we met during our years there are still close to us, from Dr. Mike Kutner, Dr. Manatunga, and Dr. Lance Waller through former faculty like Dr. DuBois Bowman. This gift is a small token of appreciation for the foundation Rollins provided us and the people who educated us. Hopefully it will help pass on a similar experience to a new generation of students.” n