New scholarship at LaGuardia

Students at LaGuardia Community College will soon have new scholarships available thanks to a $250,000 gift to the college from The Wallace Foundation.
The historic donation, in honor of the college’s founding President, Dr. Joseph Shenker, will help fund the Joe Shenker Memorial Scholarship fund that students will begin receiving in 2010. Dr. Shenker, a former board member of The Wallace Foundation, died on September 20 at the age of 68.
“Joe Shenker, who served on our board for seven years, believed passionately in the power of education to transform lives,” said M. Christine DeVita, President of The Wallace Foundation. “We are pleased to endow this scholarship in his name at LaGuardia Community College, which serves as a crucial gateway of opportunity for so many in New York City.”
With costs of attending college going up and cuts in financial aid becoming more common, LaGuardia Community College was very grateful for the gift.
“The Wallace Foundation’s extraordinary gift will help to recognize Dr. Shenker’s life and leadership by providing access to education to those who would otherwise not have it,” said LaGuardia Community College President Dr. Gail O. Mellow. “That was something he was very passionate about.”
During the 2007-08 academic year, 52 percent of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students were awarded some form of financial aid. That number is expected to rise over the next year.
Dr. Shenker, who led the college for its first 18 years, maintained strong ties to LaGuardia after he left in 1988 to serve as President of Bank Street College.
This past June, the college honored Dr. Shenker with its inaugural Innovative Leadership Award, which will be given annually to leaders and advocates who have made significant contributions to higher education. The June reception raised $150,000 for scholarship funds.