From the February 2010 issue of Our Moment, the UConn Foundation's e-newsletter.
Following in the footsteps of a philanthropist who helped make his college education possible, Michael Alpert ’90 has established a scholarship to help high-achieving undergraduate students succeed at the University of Connecticut. Alpert and his wife, Ariana Napier, have committed $25,000 for a need-based scholarship for honors students.
The benefits of scholarships exceed financial assistance. Scholarships recognize students’ accomplishments and promise and can incentivize them to succeed.
“I was twice awarded the Louis D. Traurig Scholarship for excellence in economics. Not only was the financial support very welcomed, but it represented an example of collegiate academic achievement,” says Alpert. “That’s why it’s also something that remains on my resume today. I strongly believe that awards like this as well as the distinction of the Honors Program gave me a leg up when I applied and was accepted to the Wharton School of Business and also aided me in the competitive world of Wall Street.”
Traurig attended UConn in the 1910s. The prominent banker and civic leader, who died in 1984, served on the UConn Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1973 to 1979. When he established the Traurig Scholarship in 1973, it was one of the largest endowed scholarships held by the foundation. Traurig wanted to support economics students at the top of their class, and his scholarship is still doing so today.
Now Alpert is carrying on that legacy of philanthropy. Alpert says that when he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics, being able to include the Honors Program on his resume helped distinguish him from other candidates. He is now portfolio manager and head of the small company growth team at J&W Seligman.
“When I decided to create a scholarship, choosing the Honors Program was easy because I felt a strong personal connection from my days at UConn,” he says. “The Honors Program is most definitely a hidden gem at the University that deserves more exposure. It’s a way for UConn to compete for Ivy League talented students who want the same rigorous education at a fraction of the cost.”
The Michael Alpert and Ariana Napier Honors Enrichment Scholarship will support honors students with financial need who are participating in enrichment programs such as summer undergraduate research, a creative project, a nonprofit internship or study abroad.
“In addition to contributing to the growth and success of the Honors Program, Ariana and I also felt strongly that the award should benefit a student from an underprivileged background. Our goal was to help equip a student with the tools to compete with the best of the best in the country.”
For more information about supporting the Honors Program, please contact the UConn Foundation’s development department.
