$1 million gift will go toward $500 million match campaign

McPherson College has announced the creation of an endowed scholarship fund for students pursuing a degree in automotive restoration. The Take advantage of Walton Scholarship or grant Fund will focus on attracting and retaining the best students in the college’s unique automotive restoration program.

The $1 million gift from the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation will certainly be supplemented by the particular two-for-one donor match introduced by the college in November, resulting in $3 million with regard to the McPherson College endowment. The anonymous double-match estate commitment of $500 million is the largest within the history of any liberal arts university in the particular United States.

“This grant helps us fulfill our mission associated with being the center of excellence regarding students serious about automotive repair, ” said McPherson University President Michael Schneider. “Students completing their degree from our program are the skilled craftsmen, technicians, historians, curators, managers, marketing plus communication persons, and leaders necessary to preserve the classic car industry. ”

The Waltons join the former host of The Tonight Show and car enthusiast Jay Leno in providing student scholarships for the system and continues the significant contributions toward the $250 million match up recently announced by McPherson College.

“Driving and collecting vintage automobiles is a personal passion, ” said Rob Walton. “We’re pleased to contribute to educating the next generation of car restorers and making college more affordable intended for McPherson college students. ”

The particular McPherson College automotive recovery program combines a liberal arts approach with hands-on craftsmanship that prepares learners to be successful in a broad range of careers within the auto industry. Graduates of the nation’s only accredited four-year bachelor’s degree program in automotive restoration go on to work for that biggest names in the particular automotive industry. Current students are restoring a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet that will become entered within the renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2023. The plan has attracted the attention associated with industry frontrunners and car enthusiasts such as Richard Lundquist, who donated the 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona to the program.

Beyond offering one-of-a-kind educational opportunities, McPherson College is committed to helping students graduate with little to zero student debt. Its Student Debt Project utilizes financial literacy, mentoring, and matching funds to assist students working while attending college. So far, students in the program have reduced their own projected financial debt at graduation by $12, 000. Scholarships, like the particular Rob Walton Scholarship Fund, work in tandem with the College student Debt Task to help minimize the need for student and family educational loans.

To date, the college has raised over $130 million of the particular $250 mil needed to secure the $500 million complement, including a $50 million commitment from Californian philanthropists Melanie plus Richard Lundquist. To learn more about the $250 million two-for-one match applied to endowment donations and property gift commitments made in order to McPherson University, visit www.mcpherson.edu/500match .