Generous gift will provide new scholarships

A large and generous gift has officials smiling at Southeast Missouri State University.

The university has received a $750,000 gift for its Harrison College of Business, the largest scholarship endowment ever made to the business school.

The gift came from the estate of St. Louis businessman William C. Volenetz, a Southeast alumnus who died in September 2001.

Interest on the money could fund scholarships for students as early as this fall, said Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the college of business. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and preference will be given to St. Louis County residents.

Volenetz attended the university from 1929 to 1933, graduating with a degree in business and mathematics. He worked for 45 years at Brown Shoe Co., retiring as executive vice president.

This gift isn't the first time Southeast has benefited from Volenetz' generosity. At least three times in the past he has donated generously to the school or other related charities. These included a gift of $70,000 to the Wesley Foundation to purchase the Wesley House at 45 N. Pacific, which houses a campus ministry.

We salute William Volenetz and thank his family for his generosity, which will pay dividends in education for generations yet to come.