Anonymous gifts will be a catalyst for scholarships and research in the sciences

Two anonymous donations totaling more than half a million dollars have generated an excited state of affairs in the chemistry and biology departments.

Words by TCNJ's editorial staff

Two anonymous donations totaling more than half a million dollars have generated an excited state of affairs in the chemistry and biology departments. The first, a bequest of $500,000, will create an endowment to fund student scholarships in the area of organic chemistry and a possible fellowship program for faculty to engage students in undergraduate research. Although the donor asked to remain anonymous, their reported motivation for giving was to enhance the chemistry department’s exemplary record of success, which includes a 100 percent placement rate of graduates into graduate and professional schools and the workforce.

The second donation, totaling $10,000, was given to support the research efforts of Tracy Kress, assistant professor of biology. Kress’s work involves a combination of genetic, molecular cell biology, and biochemical approaches that use yeast as a model organism to understand how the various cells in an organism regulate gene expression to adapt to different environments or situations.

“The fact that donors both recognize and choose to financially support the science programs at the College truly speaks volumes about the quality and capacity of all of our programs at TCNJ,” said Jeff Osborn, dean of the School of Science. “Gifts like these will have both an immediate and long-term impact and will help guide our programs to an even higher level of distinction and excellence.”

During the past fiscal year, the College received numerous gifts from alumni and friends. Every one of these donations is making an impact on student success at TCNJ—and every donor has his or her own personal motivation for continuing to support the College. We asked several alumni to share their reasons for giving. Click here to read their stories.