Named Endowed Scholarships

Most scholarships are awarded by Pitzer’s Office of Financial Aid and do not require that students complete a special application. However, to be considered for a need-based named scholarship, students must apply for financial aid. 

70+ Endowed Scholarships
Name of ScholarshipDescription
C.V. Starr Foundation Endowed Scholarship (China)The C.V. Starr Foundation Scholarship, China, was established in 1995 to support the Pitzer College in China program (formerly the Pitzer College in Shanghai program). Pitzer College in China offers students a unique, in-depth learning experience in Beijing. The program is affiliated with Beijing University, the premier institution of higher education in China. While in Beijing, Pitzer students are kept very busy with a rich and rigorous schedule of academic study and cultural experiences. They intensively study the Chinese language, take a core course on Chinese society and culture, complete an independent study project and live in dormitories with Chinese students in addition to briefly residing with a Chinese family. Students may also choose to take an elective course in traditional Chinese medicine, advanced Chinese language or calligraphy.One of the largest private foundations in the US, the C.V. Starr Foundation makes both national and international grants in a number of areas, including education, medicine and healthcare, human needs, public policy, culture and the environment. In deference to Starr’s interest in supporting deserving students, education has been the most substantial area of giving for the Foundation. And, in keeping with Starr’s international perspective, the Foundation has funded numerous exchange programs over the years.It is an honor to receive endowed scholarship funds from the C.V. Starr Foundation and bears evidence of an institution’s strength, as applications for such funds are accepted only by invitation from the Foundation.
Carpe Diem Endowed ScholarshipThe Carpe Diem Endowed Scholarship (formerly called the Robin Kramer Endowed Scholarship) was established in 2001 through the generosity of Robin Kramer and her husband, Neil Kramer. This scholarship was established to honor the memory of Robin Kramer’s mother, Norma Hagler, in the hope that the funds would be directed to a student who exemplified her “seize the day” spirit and her encouragement of others to do the same. Robin earned her Bachelor of Arts in political studies and journalism from Pitzer College in 1977 and is the first alumna to chair the Pitzer College Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, previously serving as chief of staff to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as well as Mayor Richard Riordan—the first woman to serve in this post. Neil is lecturer in history at the American Jewish University and former dean of faculty at New Community Jewish High School in West Hills. The Kramers are the parents of three sons: Ben, Daniel and Gabe.
Chandra Family Endowed Scholarship The Chandra Family Endowed Scholarship was established in academic year 2014-15 by Praveen T. and Anuradha Chandra P’15, the parents of Aditi Chandra ’15. The scholarship supports students with demonstrated financial need, helping them realize their dream of earning a Pitzer College degree. At least one Chandra Family Scholarship is awarded annually.
Charles and Phyllis Horton Endowed ScholarshipThe Charles and Phyllis Horton Endowed Scholarship was established in 1985 to provide financial aid support to a talented student with demonstrated need. Mrs. Horton was a longtime friend of Pitzer College who served on the Board of Trustees from 1985 to 1993. Phyllis Horton passed away in 2018.
Clayton S. and Frances Ellsworth Endowed ScholarshipThe Clayton and Frances Ellsworth Endowed Scholarship is awarded to history majors with demonstrated financial need. It was established by many friends of Dr. Frank L. Ellsworth, the president of Pitzer College from 1979 to 1991, in honor of his parents.
David Bloom' 85 Memorial Endowed ScholarshipThe David Bloom ’85 Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1993 in memory of David Bloom, Pitzer alumnus and NBC anchor. Mr. Bloom is remembered as a loving father and husband as well as an energetic and talented reporter whose battlefield broadcasts gave millions of viewers a soldier’s vantage point on war. A national debate champion while at Pitzer, he went on to become a White House correspondent and a ubiquitous screen presence throughout the opening days of the war in Iraq. Awarded annually, the David Bloom ’85 Memorial Endowed Scholarship provides needed support to students interested in a communications-related career.
David Sadava Endowed ScholarshipThe David Sadava Endowed Scholarship was established in 2012 with a generous gift from Shahan D. Soghikian ’80, a Pitzer College trustee and alumnus. Mr. Soghikian established the scholarship in honor of his close friend and former teacher, David Sadava, Emeritus Pritzker Professor of Biology at the W.M. Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges. Having completed courses in biology, biochemistry and genetics with Dr. Sadava during his time at Pitzer, Mr. Soghikian found him to be an exceptional teacher of great patience, wit, passion and commitment.The Sadava scholarship is awarded to Pitzer students whose academic and career aspirations emulate the spirit of Dr. Sadava’s life work and contributions in biomedical science, particularly in the treatment of cancer and other human diseases. Dr. Sadava joined the faculty at the Claremont Colleges in 1972 as an assistant professor and was subsequently promoted to associate professor in 1977 and full professor in 1984. In 1996, he became the inaugural Pritzker Professor of Biology.Eligible students must 1) be a junior or senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, 2) have demonstrated financial need, 3) have an academic concentration in biology and 4) have identified a strong career and/or research interest in medicine or a related field focusing on human health. Fields include but are not limited to biology, neuroscience, human biology, chemistry and biochemistry.
Diane Mosbacher '72 Endowed ScholarshipThe Diane Mosbacher ’72 Endowed Scholarship was established in 1985 by Dr. Diane Mosbacher, most commonly known as “Dee,” and her father, Mr. Robert A. Mosbacher, through the Mosbacher Foundation.Dr. Mosbacher, PhD, MD, is an American filmmaker, practicing psychiatrist and activist. Her documentary, “Straight From the Heart,” was nominated for an Academy Award in 1995, and her film, “Radical Harmonies: The Story of the Women’s Music Cultural Movement,” was voted best documentary at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film festival in 2002. In 1993, Dr. Mosbacher founded Women Vision, a nonprofit organization that promotes tolerance and equal treatment of all people through the production and use of educational media. A longtime and generous supporter of Pitzer, Dr. Mosbacher’s substantial 2011 contribution to the College established the Mosbacher/Gartrell Center for Experimentation and Activism and the Mosbacher Endowed Fund for Media Studies, which will provide ongoing funding for programming.Mr. Mosbacher, who passed away in 2010 at age 82, shares a liberal arts educational background with his daughter, having graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1947. From 1989 to 1990, he served as US secretary of commerce under George H.W. Bush, and in the 70s, he served as finance chairman for Gerald R. Ford. In addition to politics, Mr. Mosbacher was involved in ranching, oil drilling, real estate and banking throughout his lifetime, and he provided substantial support to advancing US competitiveness in advanced technology. He was also an accomplished sailor with numerous world sailing championships during his heyday.The donors strongly prefer that the Diane Mosbacher ’72 Endowed Scholarship assist minority females.
Diane Shammas '75 Endowed ScholarshipJeanette Shammas established the Diane Shammas ’75 Endowed Scholarship in 2009 to honor her daughter, Diane. The scholarship is awarded to students of Middle Eastern descent or students who study the Middle East. Along with her husband, the late Nickolas Shammas, Mrs. Shammas also created an annual scholarship in her daughter’s name in the early 80s.  Mr. Shammas passed away in 2003.Diane Shammas completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Pitzer followed by earning a PhD in educational policy at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California (USC). She focused her doctoral dissertation on the relationships between campus social relations, racial campus climates and student sense of school belonging among Arab and Muslim community college students and has published and lectured widely on the subject.Prior to returning to USC for her doctoral degree, Ms. Shammas was in the women’s fashion industry for 23 years and owned women’s retail apparel stores in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.
Dorothy Dufree Avery Endowed ScholarshipOriginally known as the Durfee Foundation Scholarship, the Dorothy Durfee Avery Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1966 by R. Stanton Avery in loving memory of his wife, Dorothy Durfee Avery. Mrs. Avery, a founding trustee of Pitzer College, passed away in 1964. Mr. Avery hoped to memorialize what he believed would have been Mrs. Avery’s wishes had she lived to provide more years of service as a Pitzer College Trustee. The scholarship was renamed the Dorothy Durfee Avery Endowed Scholarship Fund in 1983 at the request of their children. The scholarship is annually awarded to students who are in good standing and have demonstrated financial need.
Edna Van Wart and Castera Memorial Endowed ScholarshipThe Edna Van Wart Castera Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1969 with a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Castera. The scholarship is awarded to academically talented students with demonstrated financial need.
Eli and Edythe Broad Endowed ScholarshipEstablished in 1994, the Eli and Edythe Broad Endowed Scholarship is available to students who remain in good standing and have demonstrated financial need.
Ellin Ringler-Henderson Endowed ScholarshipThe Ellin Ringler-Henderson Scholarship was originally established as an annual scholarship in 1996 upon Mrs. Ringler-Henderson’s retirement from Pitzer College. She was a beloved and respected professor and member of the Pitzer community. To the College and to her students, she brought an expertise in British and American literature for almost three decades. When she passed away in 2007, the scholarship was endowed by her husband, Colin Henderson. The scholarship provides crucial support to students with demonstrated financial need who are majoring in English and world literature.
Esther Stewart Richardson Endowed ScholarshipThe Esther Stewart Richards Endowed Scholarship has the distinct honor of being the first endowed scholarship created at Pitzer College. It supports any student with financial need and was established in honor of Esther Stewart Richards, the mother of Virginia Atherton.Mrs. Atherton served as Pitzer’s “first lady” in the College’s early days as the wife of founding president John W. Atherton.
Evan Foster Endowed Scholarship

The Marilyn Chapin Massey Endowed Scholarship was renamed the Evan Foster Endowed Scholarship in 2015 at the request of President Emeritus Marilyn Chapin Massey. Originally established upon her retirement in 2002, the scholarship was dedicated to the spirit of Evan Foster. It will now be formally named for him.

Evan Foster is the late son of two Pitzer College alumni, Ruett Foster ’81 and Rhonda Foster ’82. He was killed in a random act of teenage violence in 1997, and his parents have dedicated themselves to countering such violence and building a peaceful community as their way of remembering him. Each year, the Foster family will work collaboratively with Pitzer to help select the recipient of the scholarship.

The Evan Foster Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a Pitzer student who is committed to transforming communities to end violence and create hope for all children. Preferably, the student will be from a Los Angeles inner city or Inglewood public high school (including charter schools) or a resident of inner city Los Angeles or Inglewood who attends on scholarship an independent school or private school. The scholarship is intended to help with financial need.

Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1983 by John Pollock, a former Pitzer College trustee and then-president of the Fletcher Jones Foundation. Annually, at least one student with a strong academic background is selected for the scholarship.After the death of Fletcher Jones in 1972, the trustees of the Fletcher Jones Foundation determined that supporting private colleges and universities in California would be their primary emphasis. The Foundation strives to offer assistance in ways that will create lasting benefits. Certainly, the support of bright, engaged students who are pursuing a strong education and successful future carries out this mission.
Flora Sanborn Pitzer Endowed ScholarshipIn 1966, Kenneth and Jean Pitzer, together with their children, Ann, Russell and John, established the Flora Sanborn Pitzer Endowed Scholarship fund in honor of Kenneth’s mother, Flora Sanborn Pitzer. Mrs. Pitzer was the first wife of Russell K. Pitzer, the College’s founder.To honor Mrs. Pitzer’s fascination with mathematics and her work in the field, when selecting students for this scholarship, preference is given to those demonstrating a significant interest and ability in mathematics and its applications.
George H. Mayr Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe George H. Mayr Foundation Endowed Scholarship at Pitzer College was established in 1987 and provides financial aid to students who are residents of California. George Henry Mayr, born in 1868, secured his wealth as a druggist-entrepreneur of Mayr’s “wonderful remedy.” He invested his profits in real estate and earned the majority of his fortune managing, buying and selling property. Although he never achieved his dream of earning a college degree, when George Mayr died in 1958 he drew much satisfaction from the knowledge that his foundation allows young men and women the opportunity to obtain an education at some of the finest private institutions in California.
Halford H. Fairchild Endowed Scholarship in Africana Studies The Halford H. Fairchild Endowed Scholarship in Africana Studies was established in 2016 by Pitzer College Professor of Psychology and Africana Studies Halford Fairchild. When selecting a student for this scholarship, preference is given to students majoring in Africana Studies. Should no students in a given year meet this criterion, any enrolled African American student with financial need and good academic standing may be selected for the scholarship.
Harry and Grace Steele Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe Harry and Grace Steele Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1986 through the generosity of the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Steele were beloved and respected members of the Pitzer community.This scholarship was the last of many endowed scholarships the Steele Foundation helped fund throughout a four-year campaign presented by the trustees of Foundation whereby Pitzer would raise $1,000,000 in matching funds over a four-year period. This period ran from 1982 to 1986.
Helen Juda Endowed ScholarshipThe Helen Juda Endowed Scholarship was established in 1996 through the generosity of the Felix and Helen Juda Foundation. Helen Juda was a beloved and respected member of the Pitzer community and was named a Life Trustee in 1987 after years of board service beginning in 1974.During her lifetime, Mrs. Juda was an active volunteer with many worthwhile causes, including Vista Del Mar Children’s Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Her connection with Pitzer continues through her son, Tom Juda, and daughter, Patsy Palmer, who is married to current Pitzer College Trustee Arnold Palmer.The Helen Juda Endowed Scholarship is annually awarded to students with demonstrated financial need and gives preference to students studying art or printmaking. Felix and Helen Juda were avid collectors of Japanese prints and fine art.
Herold Family Endowed ScholarshipThe Herold Family Endowed Scholarship was established in 1984 by Lee Jackman, former Pitzer College vice president of development. Mrs. Jackman established the scholarship in honor of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herold.  Long after her husband’s death and upon her daughter joining the staff of Pitzer, Mrs. Herold became a loyal donor to the College.The Herold Family Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to a student with demonstrated financial need.
History Endowed ScholarshipThe History Endowed Scholarship was established in 2004 through the generosity of Diane Garthwaite and her son, Alexander Ridley. Alex is a 1995 graduate of Pitzer College who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He currently works with The Nature Conservancy in Boston, Massachusetts. In keeping with Alex’s accomplishments, this scholarship provides financial support for fellow history majors.
Janet Irene MacFarland Endowed ScholarshipThe Janet Irene MacFarland Endowed Scholarship was established in 1990 through the estate of Mary Ann Callan. Ms. Callan served as assistant to Pitzer’s founding president, John Atherton, and specified in her will that the scholarship be named in honor of her friend, Janet MacFarland. The scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial need.
Jeffery Frum ’12 Endowed ScholarshipThe Jeffery Robert Frum ’12 Endowed Scholarship was established in 2013 with a generous gift and bequest from Mary Frances Jett, aunt of the late Jeffery Robert Frum. Ms. Jett passed away in 2014.Described by his family and friends as a young man with an infectious smile, huge heart and an appetite for adventure, Jeffery majored in economics and minored in environmental analysis at Pitzer College. Tragically, he died in an accident shortly after his graduation from Pitzer.Jeffery was a natural athlete, whether he was on a baseball diamond or surfing the Pacific. He covered second base for the Sagehens Baseball team following a stellar athletic career in high school, where he played varsity soccer for three years and varsity baseball for four years, twice earning the Team Most Valuable Player award. “Jeff was a true team player,” said Sagehens Baseball Coach Frank Pericolosi. “He always supported his teammates and did everything he could to make them better.”The Jeffery Robert Frum ’12 scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students with demonstrated financial need for the purpose of assisting them to be the best people they can be and helping them accomplish their dreams of earning a Pitzer College degree.
Jill Ford Harmon '66 Endowed ScholarshipThe Jill Ford Harmon ’66 Endowed Scholarship is given to students with financial need, especially students whose financial or personal situation would not allow him or her to attend or continue studies at Pitzer without this support. Students selected to receive the Harmon scholarship need not be the strongest academically, but they have demonstrated their potential to become productive global citizens with the encouragement this award would provide.Jill Ford Harmon graduated from Pitzer College in 1966 with a degree in general studies. She and her husband, Bill Harmon, a psychiatrist, settled in Santa Cruz and raised three children.  Mrs. Harmon’s untimely death in 2005 was a loss that saddened the entire Pitzer community. She was the first alumna to join the Pitzer Board of Trustees, and she served as a class representative for the inauguration of President Laura Skandera Trombley.
John Skandera Memorial Endowed ScholarshipEstablished by numerous donors in honor of John Skandera, the father of Pitzer College’s former president, Laura Skandera Trombley, the John Skandera Memorial Scholarship is available to students who are first-generation college students, achieve a 3.2 GPA, remain in good standing and have a demonstrated financial need. John Skandera passed away in November 2010 at age 91.Due to his academic excellence in high school, Mr. Skandera earned a full scholarship to Pepperdine University, helping to build the new institution and graduating in 1948.  His undergraduate studies were followed by completion of a master’s degree at the University of Southern California in 1962. For many decades, Mr. Skandera taught elementary school, bringing his caring and charismatic personality into the classroom and influencing countless young students. Having grown up as a farmhand in a New York orphanage, he is an outstanding example of how hard work, diligence and a positive attitude can bring success in life.
John Stauffer Memorial Endowed ScholarshipThe John Stauffer Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to academically and professionally qualified senior science majors at the recommendation of the faculty of the Pitzer-Claremont McKenna-Scripps Joint Science Department. Established through the generosity of the Pasadena-based Stauffer Trust, this important scholarship helps make a Pitzer College education possible for deserving students from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. John Stauffer, who died in 1972, was a leading Los Angeles industrialist and philanthropist, serving as a trustee for Whittier College and the University of Southern California. His father, John Stauffer, Sr., founded the former Stauffer Chemical Company.
John W. Atherton Endowed ScholarshipThe John W. Atherton Endowed Scholarship honors the founding president of Pitzer College. It is awarded to seniors with demonstrated financial need majoring in English and world literature. Called to lead Claremont’s new liberal arts college in 1963, Atherton wrote, “Pitzer was built of dreams. We were the wonder child who came to transform the world.” During the next seven years, aided by his wife and partner, the late Virginia Atherton, President Atherton recruited a faculty of more than 50 and grew the student body to more than 650. More fundamentally, he created an academic environment where faculty and students were empowered—to question, to learn, to act. Almost 50 years later, Pitzer is still very much the “wonder child,” continually reinventing itself as it endeavors to transform students and, through them, the world around us.  The Atherton’s legacy and connection with Pitzer College continues through their son, John W. Atherton, Jr., and other members of the Atherton family.
Johnson Family Endowed ScholarshipKeith A. Johnson, the parent of Brian A. Johnson ’93, established the Johnson Family Endowed Scholarship in 1993 through the generosity of the Johnson Family Foundation. The scholarship is given to students that are identified as learning disabled. In the event that no such students can be identified, then those considered to be at-risk, in a broad sense, receive the scholarship assistance.
Johnathan P. Graham' 82 and Elizabeth B. Ulmer Endowed ScholarshipThe Jonathan P. Graham ’82 and Elizabeth B. Ulmer Endowed Scholarship was established in 2000 to provide financial assistance to students with demonstrated need. Jonathan earned his bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College in economics and is currently the senior vice president and general counsel with the Danaher Corporation, a global company headquartered in Washington, DC. He has served Pitzer in multiple ways since graduation, including chairing the twentieth reunion for the Class of 1982. In 1997, he was elected to the Pitzer Board of Trustees. His wife, Elizabeth, is a community leader and development consultant with the National Child Research Center, Coral Reef Alliance, and other nonprofit organizations. Jon and Elizabeth have two children, Miles and Annie.
Catherine C. Keck Endowed ScholarshipThe Katherine C. Keck Endowed Scholarship was established in 1983 to honor Katherine Keck through the generosity the Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation. It is awarded annually to students with demonstrated financial need.A trustee of Pitzer College beginning in 1981, Ms. Keck continues to support the campus as a distinguished member of the President’s Council. She earned her bachelor of science degree in finance and marketing from the University of Southern California and formally trained in photography at The Cortona School of Photography in Cortona, Italy. She is an active philanthropist and serves on several boards, including those of the Bower Museum and the Mead Foundation.
Kenneth and Jean Pitzer Memorial Endowed Scholarship

For many years, Kenneth and Jean Pitzer generously contributed to an annual student scholarship fund, continuing in the philanthropic tradition of Kenneth’s father, Russell K. Pitzer, the founder of Pitzer College. The Pitzer Family Foundation later endowed their annual scholarship, which became the Kenneth and Jean Pitzer Memorial Endowed Scholarship. When considering students as potential scholarship recipients, emphasis is placed on past academic excellence and achievements as well as future promise.

Kenneth S. Pitzer joined the College’s board of trustees in 1966. He served as an active trustee until 1983 when he was honored as a life trustee. Before his death in 1997, he had an illustrious career in higher education, having served as president of Stanford University and Rice University and dean of the College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Kenneth was recognized with many prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Science, the Priestley Medal of the American Chemical Society and the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Chemists.

Jean M. Pitzer grew up in Pomona, Claremont’s neighbor, with an early introduction to the importance of education—her father was a local high school teacher and principal. In 1935, she earned a sociology degree at Pomona College and married Kenneth. They made their home in Berkeley, where Jean pursued her interest in archaeology and published several scholarly papers on the subject.

Laura Skandera Trombley Endowed ScholarshipIn 2003, inaugural donors established the Laura Skandera Trombley Endowed Scholarship in honor of Pitzer College’s former president, Laura Skandera Trombley. The scholarship is available to students who are first-generation scholars, maintain a 3.2 GPA, remain in good standing and have a demonstrated financial need.
Leslie and Goldie Warren Endowed ScholarshipThe Leslie and Goldie Warren Endowed Scholarship was established in 1976 with a bequest from the estate of Goldie Zumwalt Warren. Longtime residents of the Claremont-Pomona area, the late Mr. and Mrs. Warren were friends with Pitzer College’s founder, Russell K. Pitzer, and were active in supporting the College during its early years. The scholarship is awarded to female students with demonstrated financial need.
Lisa Specht Endowment for Women of Pitzer CollegeThe Lisa Specht Endowment for Women of Pitzer College was established in 2016 through a generous gift from the Ron Rogers and Lisa Specht Living Trust. This endowment provides scholarship support to female students in Pitzer’s New Resources program. Lisa Specht served as a Pitzer College trustee from 1993 to 2014. The fund was created upon the death of her husband, Ron Rogers.
Margot Levin Schiff Endowed ScholarshipThe Margot Levin Schiff Endowed Scholarship was established in 2000 through the generosity of Mr. Harold Schiff and Mrs. Margot Levin Schiff P’90, P’95. Mrs. Levin Schiff, the mother of two Pitzer College graduates, has served as a Pitzer College Trustee since 1987. Mr. Schiff passed away in 2012.The Margot Levin Schiff Endowed Scholarship provides support to students with demonstrated financial need.
Mary Pickford Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe Mary Pickford Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1995 in honor of film industry pioneer and icon Mary Pickford. Mrs. Pickford held strong philanthropic beliefs and understood the importance of education and its ability to empower students. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student with demonstrated financial need.
Maud Barker Neff Endowed ScholarshipThe Maud Barker Neff Endowed Scholarship was established in 1986 in combination with equal scholarships to Scripps College and Pomona College. Dr. and Mrs. Philip Neff created the scholarship in memory of Dr. Neff’s mother, Maud Barker Neff. The scholarship is designated for students with a strong academic background who demonstrate financial need.
Mead Foundation Endowed ScholarshipMead Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1982 and, since the completion of funding in 1986, four or five students have been annually selected to receive support from the scholarship. Pitzer College is pleased to share that more than 100 alumni and students have benefitted from the Mead Foundation’s generosity.Over the years, the Mead Foundation has generously donated more than $1 million to Pitzer.
The Mead family has close ties with the College, as Elise G. Mead was a Pitzer College founding trustee and served on the board of trustees from 1963 to 1977. Mrs. Mead’s son, the late Dr. Giles W. Mead Jr., served as a trustee from 1977 to 1985 and as chairman of the board from 1982 to 1985. Additionally, Mrs. Mead’s grandson and Dr. Mead’s son, Giles “Whit” Whitaker Mead, stands among Pitzer’s many distinguished alumni, having graduated as a member of the Class of 1987
Milton Avery Arts Endowed ScholarshipMrs. Sally Avery established the Milton Avery Arts Endowed Scholarship in 1990 in honor of her husband, the late painter of great acclaim, Milton Avery, and through the generosity of the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation. Posthumously, Mr. Avery is heralded as one of the most influential twentieth-century American artists. He passed along his passion and talent for art to his daughter, March Cavanaugh P’91, who also emerged as a lauded artist under his tutelage. Continuing the family tradition, March Cavanaugh’s son and the Avery’s’ grandson, Sean Cavanaugh ’91, became an artist as well, receiving formal training as an art student at Pitzer College.In 2010, the artwork of these three generations of the Avery family was exhibited in Vienna, Austria at the residence of the US Ambassador through the US Department of State’s ART in Embassies program. This international program curates exhibitions for US Embassy residences throughout the world to promote dialogue, respect and understanding between diverse cultures through the universal language of art. The Milton Avery Arts Endowed Scholarship is available to students who show talent, drive and passion for one or more aspects of the studio or visual arts.
Ming Yao-Crusey '69 and Bill Crusey Endowed ScholarshipThe Ming Yao-Crusey ’69 and Bill Crusey Scholarship was established in 2019 by Class of 1969 alumna Ming Yao-Crusey and her husband, Bill Crusey. The scholarship supports Pitzer students in good standing who have financial need.
Nancy Penick McGarry Endowed ScholarshipSusan Penick established the Nancy Penick McGarry Scholarship through the Albert Penick Fund in honor of her late sister and Pitzer alumna, Nancy McGarry ’72. Nancy McGarry ’72 was an accomplished horsewoman and athlete who, according to family members, “refused to let ill health stand in the way of living.” She passed away in 1995. When selecting a student for this scholarship, preference is given to a student playing club sports at the Colleges.
Nash Family Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship As proud Pitzer College parents, Michael and Lisa Nash established the Nash Family Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship in 2013. The scholarships supports students who are studying abroad, especially those who demonstrate an interest in community or public service, urban issues or other areas of civic engagement. Michael and Lisa Nash are the parents of Mary Nash ’15.
Nathan Family Endowed ScholarshipThe Nathan Family Endowed Scholarship was established in 1984 through the generosity of Elinor Nathan, her family and many friends. It provides financial assistance to a deserving student with demonstrated need. In 1971, Mrs. Nathan was appointed to the Pitzer College Board of Trustees and, 25 years later, was named a trustee for life. Before her death in 2000, her long and dedicated service to Pitzer was recognized with an honorary degree.A woman of many talents, she was an actress on Broadway and one of radio’s earliest female voices. She left radio work in 1955 to marry an insurance executive, the late Frank Nathan, and pursue a life as a wife, mother, education activist and patron of the arts. Pitzer is pleased to continue our connection to the Nathan Family, especially her two daughters, Judy Pasquinelli and Nancy Gettelman.
Pitzer Parents' Endowed Scholarship for Art The Pitzer Parents’ Scholarship for Art was established in 2019 to provide support to a Pitzer student majoring in art or art history who has financial need.
R. Stanton Avery Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe R. Stanton Avery Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 2000 by the children of the late R. Stanton Avery, a founding supporter of Pitzer College, and through The Durfee Foundation, which was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Avery in 1960. Mr. Avery’s wife, the late Dorothy Durfee Avery, was a founding member of the Pitzer College Board of Trustees.
Roxanne R. Belding Endowed ScholarshipPitzer Parents Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Belding established the Roxanne R. Belding Endowed Scholarship in 1979 in honor of their daughter, Roxanne R. Belding Keyser ’79. It is annually awarded to a student in good standing with demonstrated financial need.
Russell M. Pitzer Endowed ScholarshipTo honor the longstanding service and support that her brother, Russell M. Pitzer, has provided to Pitzer College over the years, the late Ann E. Pitzer, longtime Pitzer trustee, established the Russell M. Pitzer Endowed Scholarship in 2014. At least one scholarship is awarded annually to a student with demonstrated financial need and good academic standing.
Sally Love Downey Endowed ScholarshipThe Sally Love Downey Endowed Scholarship was established in 2001 by Pitzer College Trustee Sally Love Downey through the George H. and Margaret M. Love Foundation. Mrs. Downey is the parent of three Pitzer graduates, members of the classes of 1988, 1989 and 1991. This scholarship is available to students in good standing with demonstrated financial need.
Schlesinger Family Endowed ScholarshipThe Schlesinger Family Endowed Scholarship was established in 2015 by the Schlesinger Family Foundation through Noah Joshua Schlesinger ’04. Annual income generated by this scholarship fund is used to benefit Pitzer students who have demonstrated financial need and good academic standing.  Scholarship preference will be given to students from the Pacific Northwest—first to students of Oregon, secondly to Southwest Washington (Clark County)—with an interest in economics, political studies or study abroad.
Sheryl F. Miller Endowed ScholarshipThe Sheryl F. Miller Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 in recognition of Professor Miller’s lifetime commitment to teaching excellence. The scholarship provides funding for students with demonstrated financial need who are studying anthropology or a related discipline and have interests in field research.
Sylvia Sticha Holden Endowed ScholarshipThe Sylvia Sticha Holden Endowed Scholarship was established in 1964 with a generous gift from Roger C. Holden, the husband of Sylvia Holden and a former trustee of Pitzer College. Since the scholarship’s founding, both Mr. Holden and Mrs. Holden (who had remarried and became Mrs. Robert Robb) passed away.The gift made to establish the Holden scholarship was the largest amount pledged in support of the newly established Pitzer College since Mr. and Mrs. Russell K. Pitzer made possible its founding less than a year before. At the time the scholarship was created, Pitzer was in the process of recruiting faculty members and constructing two buildings to be ready for student occupancy during the College’s first year of classes. The scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated financial need.
Terry F. and Margaret Rood Lezner Endowed ScholarshipThe Terry F. and Margaret Rood Lenzner Endowed Scholarship fund was established in 2000 by Mr. and Mrs. Terry and Margaret Lenzner whose son, William, graduated as a member of the Pitzer College class of 1999. The scholarship is available to students who are in good standing and have a demonstrated financial need. For nearly 20 years, the Lenzners have been loyal and generous supporters of Pitzer College.
Trustee Merit Endowed ScholarshipSince 1997, many Pitzer students have received the Trustee Merit Scholarship, which is supported by the generosity of Eugene “Gene” Stein and Marilyn “Mindy” L. Stein through the Eugene and Marilyn Stein Family Foundation.A Pitzer College trustee and chairman of the board of trustees from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Stein led the campaign to create and, later, endow the Trustee Merit Scholarship. A significant percentage of the earnings generated from the endowment are combined with annual contributions to provide students increased scholarship assistance every year.Student recipients, known as Trustee Community Scholars, may renew the scholarship for the four years of their Pitzer tenure.
Universal Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe Universal Foundation Endowed Scholarship, established in 1983 as the MCA Foundation Scholarship,” provides scholarship support to interesting and creative students, with at least a few of the annually selected students displaying such creativity in the areas of film and video. Recipients must also have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship was created through gifts from the MCA Foundation (which later changed its name to Universal) and the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation.
W. Brunger Family Endowed ScholarshipThe W. Brunger Family Endowed Scholarship fund was established in 2000 by Pitzer Parents Mr. and Mrs. William and Melinda Brunger whose son, Christopher, graduated as a member of the class of 2001. The scholarship is available to students who are in good standing and have a demonstrated financial need.
W.M. Keck Foundation Endowed ScholarshipEstablished in 1982, the W.M. Keck Foundation Endowed Scholarship provides annual support to four students who are identified as academically strong.One of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations, the W.M. Keck Foundation strives to generate far-reaching benefits for humanity. With a belief that a high-quality, well-rounded education is vital for tomorrow’s leaders, the Foundation  invests in people, programs and institutions that are making a difference now and for the future.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation Endowed ScholarshipThe William Randolph Hearst Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1986 with a generous gift from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation in combination with matching funds from the Harry and Grace Steele Foundation. The scholarship is awarded to minority students with demonstrated financial need.
Yuri Hosoi Fairchild Endowed ScholarshipThe Yuri Fairchild Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 2004 by Pitzer College Professor Halford “Hal” Fairchild in memory of his mother, Yuri Fairchild. Professor Fairchild, a member of the Pitzer faculty since 1993, brings to the College many areas of interest and expertise, including social psychology, African American psychology, intergroup and race relations, research methodologies and computer applications.From fall 1998 to spring 2001, and again from fall 2006 to spring 2007, Professor Fairchild served as chairman of the Intercollegiate Department of Black Studies (now the Intercollegiate Department of Africana Studies). As a professor, he seeks to help students develop habits of mind that will serve them well throughout their lives; and as a scholar, he is fueled by an activist orientation. The foundation of his work rests on his belief that higher education is a fundamental tool for personal growth and social change.Well known and highly published in his field, Professor Fairchild serves as the editor of Psych Discourse: The Monthly Newsjournal of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABP) and he previously served as the National President of the ABP. The Yuri Fairchild Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to students with demonstrated financial need.

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Office of Advancement

The Office of Advancement furthers the mission, values, and educational objectives of the College by engaging the Pitzer community and encouraging lifelong investment in support of our students as they become socially responsible citizens of the world.