DAYTON, Ohio - Christmas 2012 was special for Irene Gilleland ’53, chair of the Golden Flyer Executive Committee. Her daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Will Lakoff, surprised her with the establishment of the Irene George Gilleland Scholarship at UD.
The scholarship will assist a deserving student-athlete who has financial need and is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences on a full-time basis. Preference will be given to a student-athlete who is majoring in chemistry, does not receive a full athletic scholarship and is a first-generation college student.
“UD has been almost the center of Mom’s life since her husband died in 2007,” said Pam, Irene’s daughter. “The university has given her life a focus and we’ve been impressed with UD and what it means to the community.”
Pam said she and Will directed the scholarship to a student-athlete because they are avid golfers and UD basketball fans. The scholarship will go to a chemistry student because Irene majored in chemistry and biology. And it will go to a first- generation college student, Pam said, “because Mom was the first in her family to go to college.”
Scholarship support is a critical component to the competitive success of the University of Dayton athletic programs. Each year, several individuals and families make the commitment to establish a named scholarship; this allows UD athletics to provide new or increased financial assistance to student-athletes, affording them the opportunity to receive an outstanding academic and athletic experience.
Scholarships have been committed to honor a former player, a coach or a family member with a passion for the Flyers.
To learn more about athletic scholarships or how to establish an athletic scholarship at the University of Dayton, please contact Brian Tracy, Director of Development for Athletics at (937) 229-3999 or btracy1@udayton.edu.
