First SU Students Benefit from LaCurts Memorial Scholarship

By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---In 2008, an anonymous donor pledged a planned gift to the Salisbury University Foundation, Inc., naming the foundation as a beneficiary of their life insurance policies to create the Violet B. LaCurts Memorial Scholarship.

This semester, the foundation announced the scholarship’s first three recipients, realizing a legacy of impact created by that donor 15 years ago.

They include chemistry majors Emily Hoard of Wilmington, DE, and Cassidy Thomas of Bridgeville, DE, and physics major Jason Verduzco-Zavala of Secretary, MD.

“This scholarship is going to allow me to worry less about the financial aspect of college and focus purely on academics and excelling at Salisbury,” said Verduzco-Zavala. “It will help me reach my goal of completing the physics engineering program and getting closer to earning a bachelor’s degree in both physics and engineering.”

In Thomas’ case, the award may leave an even more lasting impact as it allows her to continue pursuing her dreams of becoming a high school chemistry teacher and passing along the knowledge she gains at SU to her future students.

“I hope to be able to instill the love of science in all the students I will one day be educating,” she said.

“Planned gifts like this are a great opportunity for members of the community to support SU in a way that allows their legacy — or that of a loved one — to continue beyond their lifetime,” said Jason Curtin, SU vice president of advancement and executive director of the SU Foundation, Inc. “This donor’s contribution will leave a lasting impact on future generations of students.”

Students in SU’s Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology who declare majors in chemistry and physics during their freshman year and who demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible to apply for the Violet B. LaCurts Memorial Scholarship.

Those selected receive $3,000 toward their tuition, fees and other costs. Those who maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average and continue to meet criteria for the award may renew the scholarship up to four years for a total of $12,000.

For more information about the scholarship, visit the SU AcademicWorks webpage.

For more information about planned giving and additional opportunities to support SU students, visit the SU Giving and Support webpage.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.