FARGO DOCTORS PAY IT FORWARD

Unique wedding gift request results in enduring scholarship.

When Drs. Christopher Anderson, ’04, ’08, and Allison Clapp, ’08, got married in 2013, they didn’t ask for traditional gifts. Instead, they worked with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation to create the Dr. Christopher Anderson and Dr. Allison Clapp Scholarship Distribution Fund, and asked wedding guests to donate.

“It was end-of-year donation time and I think almost everyone opted to give a donation rather than a typical wedding gift,” Allison said.

For more than a decade, the couple’s named endowment has provided a scholarship to at least one medical student each year, ideally a graduate from Fargo South High School, which produced both Clapp and Anderson.

“The demographics have changed in Fargo since we graduated,” said Chris. “It’s not any longer the most affluent neighborhood in Fargo, and we think it’s important to support students who may not have had the same opportunities that other kids in the more affluent parts of the city have.”

Feeling the desire to “pay it forward,” the couple, who both completed a residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reflected on the assistance they received.

“I needed help from scholarships along the way, and I received several, both in undergrad and medical school,” said Chris. “And this was a chance to pay it forward. I feel that if you receive money from a scholarship, your goal should be to at least give that back when you’re able.”

Chris and Allison chose to focus on students from Fargo because they are more likely to stay in or return to North Dakota to practice. The state is experiencing a shortage of health providers.

The doctors encourage UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences graduates to explore giving options.