Elmhurst University is proud to announce the establishment of the President’s Scholarship for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The endowed scholarship will benefit Elmhurst students from historically underrepresented groups, and augments the University’s ongoing commitment to building a welcoming community that values and embraces diversity, equity and inclusion.

It also answers an urgent call by University leaders, students, faculty, staff and alumni to actively and intentionally support students from populations that for too long have known bigotry, racism and discrimination.

President Troy VanAken and Dr. Annette VanAken launched the scholarship initiative by making the first gift, and immediately were joined by Ed Momkus ’74, chair of the Board of Trustees; and members of the President’s Cabinet and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

With a fundraising goal of $200,000, the initiative includes a matching challenge of up to $100,000 that will double the impact of donor gifts. As of Sept. 1, more than $31,000 in gifts and pledges have been made to establish the scholarship fund. To make a gift, visit elmhurst.edu/give.

Students from historically underrepresented groups who show financial need and are in good academic standing will be encouraged to apply. More information will be available soon on the application process.

“We have always believed that one of the strengths of an Elmhurst education is to provide a rich, diverse environment where people of different experiences and identities can learn together and feel that they belong,” President VanAken said. “Never has it been more important to show how much we prize their contributions and want to nurture their success.

“We have more work to do,” he said, “but this scholarship takes us another small but significant step forward.”