Penn receives $15 million gift to launch the Clark Scholars program

https://medium.com/penn-engineering/penn-engineering-launches-a-e051f7467517

The A. James Clark Scholars Program has been established in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania with an extraordinary $15 million gift from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. It is the largest one-time gift to undergraduate support in the University’s history. The Clark Scholars Program will provide financial aid and create a new academic program for undergraduate engineering students.

The gift honors the late A. James Clark, former CEO of Clark Enterprises and Clark Construction Group LLC, one of the country’s largest privately-held general building contractors. It is designed to prepare future engineering and business leaders, with an emphasis on low income families and first-generation college students.

The program will enroll ten students per incoming class, with recruitment underway for the first cohort beginning in fall 2018. Clark Scholars pursue rigorous engineering coursework, take at least two business classes, volunteer in community service activities and participate in enrichment seminars and events with leaders in the field. Scholars will also engage in personalized mentoring, research projects and innovation training.

Is this the first merit scholarship in Penn?

How does this relate to Jerome Fisher M&T? Are M&T students eligible for Clark Scholars, or is this an alternative engineering + business program?

@f2000sa Good question. It’s probably going to be part of the named financial aid packages that students are awarded—A lot of them have specifications from the donor as to the demographic of student that can receive them.

“it is designed to prepare future engineering and business leaders, with an emphasis on low income families and first-generation college students.”

It is not need based. This will probably open the door for more merit-based scholarships. Good for Penn to compete with other Ivies. but merit aid was not allowed for ivies.

@f2000sa Nope. It is clearly need based, it says so multiple times: “The Clark Scholars Program will provide financial aid…reflects its commitment to ensure college remains accessible and affordable to high-potential students with financial need.”

If that wasn’t enough, remember that UPenn is a member of the Ivy League. Need based fin aid only. Don’t think they’d leave the league over a $15m donation. Do you?

@f2000sa agree with above. it is clearly need based. think of it as another dual degree/specialized program as opposed to a merit scholarship. People with specific skills and background are admitted, and then if they have financial need they will get aid like the rest of the students. It doesn’t say that Clark Sholars will have their tuition covered regardless of their financial background.

@renaissancedad i think this will be more focused on engineering, with just a splash of business in the curriculum. M&T is half-half and in many cases the interests of the students tilt more towards business than engineering.