Opening doors for deserving students
Warden Match kickstarts $2.5 million scholarship movement
T
he realities of JMU’s scholarship deficit recently hit home for Kathy Warden (’92), a member of the Board of Visitors who has risen from first-generation college graduate to chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman, a Fortune 100 aerospace and defense technology company. “In the School of Business at JMU, I learned not only what I needed to perform in my career, but also how to work with others, the concept of working as a team, understanding the values one should have in the way they go about engaging in their work,” Warden said. “It was a broad the university,” said Eric, retired senior Kathy (‘92) and Eric (‘93) educational experience that prepared me for my career post-graduation.” managing director at Accenture. “We’ve Warden want to help more students access A board meeting discussion made Kathy realize that many promis- been very fortunate with opportunities the Madison Experience. ing and deserving students were missing out on JMU’s superior edu- we’ve had in our careers, and I think a lot cation only because they can’t afford to attend. of it is based on the educational experiences we had as students at JMU. “I couldn’t help but think about people not having the opportunity “The more you can do to help a young person who doesn’t have to come to JMU purely because of financial reasons—and how much everything they need—from a financial standpoint, family support or other resources—if you can help plug some of those gaps … it the education at JMU had meant to me,” she said. Kathy came home from that meeting with an idea: that she and her hus- just increases the likelihood that they’re going to be on a better path band, Eric (’93), could start a scholarship movement to support students who for the rest of their life,” Eric added. need financial assistance in order to make their Madison dream a reality. He said he hopes JMU alumni and parents will join in the WarThe Wardens decided to make a leadership investment of $1.25 den Match to close some of those gaps for aspiring Dukes. The match, Eric said, “is a very simple but impactful and powermillion to help do just that. Together, they have announced they will match, dollar for dollar, ful way to give back to the university while also making an investnew gifts of any amount designated for immediate, renewable, need- ment in a young person.” Kathy said she hopes this scholarship movement helps JMU open based scholarships pledged during this calendar year. Their investment will double the number of new gifts and help JMU recruit and doors to an even more diverse student population. retain 100 aspiring Dukes. “The Warden’s gift is in perfect alignment with our energies on the “We decided this was something we wanted to do together, to give financial aid front,” said Nick Langridge, vice president of university back,” Kathy said. “As a first-generation college graduate, I understand the advancement. “When combined with our private philanthropy match, impact a JMU education can Federal Pell grants and/or have on a student’s future. This “It’s so important that we create pathways state aid, their match has the Madison Experience must conpower to make the Madison for more Dukes to come to JMU. So, we tinue and expand to welcome Experience accessible for 100 students from all walks of life.” encourage everyone … to think about what’s future Dukes who could not right for you and what your commitment have afforded to attend othAs JMU continues to grow in stature, securing this $2.5 can be to help someone else get the same erwise. This is a smart investment with a team approach.” million goal for scholarships great JMU experience that you received.” will help bridge the oppor— KATHY WARDEN (’92) C-suite execs pay tunity gap, open our doors it forward to more students and also n Help recruit 100 new Dukes improve JMU’s competitiveJohn Hinshaw (’92) knows n Goal: $2.5 million firsthand how important ness in student recruitment. scholarships can be. The son of “Kathy and I really embrace For more about this opportunity, two school teachers, he knew this opportunity to give back to visit https://j.mu/warden.
WARDEN
MATCH
8
M A D ISON
M AG A Z I N E
WA R D E N S PH OTO G R A PH BY E LI S E T R I S S E L
