Willamette Stories

Remembering Willamette

Douglas Gordenier ’54 has not forgotten the education and training he received during his four years at Willamette.

An economics major, Gordenier graduated from Willamette to pursue a business career in Southern Oregon. His success in the business world led to his desire to give something back to the University.

With a gift of $250,000, Gordenier established The Gordenier Family Scholarship Fund. This endowed scholarship fund will award annual scholarships to junior or senior economics majors in the College of Liberal Arts or to students of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. “I felt I had good business training at Willamette,” said Gordenier. “I had the opportunity to take advantage of the training I received and am happy to help someone else.”

Annual earnings from the gift will provide financial support for three to five students each year, beginning in fall 2002. Preference will be given to students from Southern Oregon who have financial need and demonstrate a combination of academic success, leadership and meritorious achievement in extra curricular activities.

“The Gordenier Family Scholarship fund is the best example of a targeted effort to strengthen the proud Willamette tradition of making it possible for financially needy students to not only enroll at the University, but to persevere through graduation,” said Jim Eddy, director of Financial Aid.