Twenty-five high school seniors from 17 states and Korea comprise the inaugural class of the University of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program, a comprehensive undergraduate merit scholarship and enrichment initiative.
Selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants, the scholars embody the program’s vision of influence, scholarship, character and compassion. Each will receive four years of merit scholarship awards of $25,000 per year. Other components of the program will include a complement of fully funded summer enrichment experiences, seminars and service-learning projects during the academic year, career advising, and alumni mentoring and networking.
“The inaugural class of Hesburgh-Yusko scholars brings together an uncommonly accomplished, diverse and ambitious group of students,” said University Provost Thomas G. Burish. “We look forward to helping them grow and develop not only into successful leaders in their professions but also ethical and generous leaders in their communities, the nation and beyond.”
Notre Dame graduates Mark W. and Stacey Miller Yusko of Chapel Hill, N.C., last year made a $35-million gift to their alma mater ─ the third largest in University history ─ to establish the program and provide students with the tools to become transformational leaders in the image of Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president from 1952 to 1987.
“Stacey and I are excited to see our vision for the program become a reality,” Mark Yusko said. “We have been blessed to have such incredible support throughout the selection process from the HYSP team, our outstanding application readers, the alumni, friends and faculty who participated in the finalist visit interview process and the high school counselors and University admissions team who made the original nominations for the program. We are grateful for the opportunity to help build something very special for Notre Dame, a place that means so much to us and our family.”
Mark Yusko is the founder, president and chief investment officer of Morgan Creek Capital Management, a registered investment adviser that provides investment management and advisory services based on the university endowment model of investing to wealthy families, individuals and institutional investors. Stacey Yusko is the director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Meals on Wheels program and a member of Notre Dame’s advisory council for the College of Arts and Letters.
Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars are selected annually by an advisory committee from a pool of qualified admitted students nominated by distinguished high schools and referred by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The students are chosen based on distinguished academic accomplishments, exemplary integrity and moral character, demonstrated leadership abilities, and a commitment to a life of service embracing the values of Catholic social tradition.
Contact: Joan Martel Ball, Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program, 574-631-1111, jmball@nd.edu