 John and Mary Elgin |
When Virginia Elgin decided to create a scholarship in honor of her father, she asked a friend for the name of a deserving college. She explained that she was looking for a good, small, liberal arts college that could benefit from such a gift.
Her friend, Marjorie Suchocki, happened to be a former dean of the Claremont School of Theology who had lectured at R-MWC. She recommended the College, and Virginia Elgin created the John and Mary Elgin Scholarship Fund in 1996.
The fund is now valued at $17,210, and the goal is to reach $25,000.
Although she had no prior affiliation with R-MWC, Virginia found in the College all the qualities she was looking for. Virginia, a physician, presented the deed of gift for the scholarship to her father at his 80th birthday celebration. Her seven siblings, most of whom were surprised by the gift, later decided to add to it themselves.
Established in honor of John and the late Mary Elgin, the scholarship pays homage to the fact that the Elgins put eight children through college. (They all then went on to earn graduate degrees on their own.) “Our parents worked and sacrificed continually so we would all have the benefit of a college education,” says Marylou Elgin Boynton, Virginia’s sister. “The scholarship fund, as it builds, is an appropriate legacy.”
Mr. Elgin, who was unable to go to college, had wanted to go to medical school to become a cardiologist. Mrs. Elgin, a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon, had also hoped to become a physician but felt her gender was a barrier. Her parents’ unfulfilled dreams, and her own decision in her late 20s to change course in life and to pursue a career in medicine, contributed to Virginia Elgin’s desire to create a scholarship for those making similar changes–and pursuing a dream.
Preference in awarding the scholarship is given to non-traditional age students (Prime Time) who are deserving by virtue of their academic record, personal qualities, and financial need.
Mr. Elgin died on November 12, 2006, and a number of gifts have since been received in his memory.
Virginia says she is excited about the college going coed, and that she would not want men to be excluded from receiving the scholarship. Says Virginia: “Once the minimum for the endowment is reached, I request that scholarship funding be given preferentially to individuals who for a variety of reasons had to begin their academic training later in life. It is for individuals going back to school to pursue a dream which earlier circumstances in life may have precluded.”
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