Posted on January 6, 2013

Alumna Gives $7 Million Gift to Westminster College for Science Scholarships

Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, has received a $7 million bequest — the largest gift in its 160-year history — from alumna Helen Louise Lemmon.

The gift, which leaves the college less than $13 million shy of its $50 million Campaign for Westminster College goal, will be used to endow the Lemmon Family Scholarship for students seeking a career in the sciences. Criteria for the scholarship will be announced later this year.

Helen Louise Lemmon, who died in 2011, began her two years of study at Westminster in the late 1930s, majoring in secretarial science. Upon graduation, she worked as secretary to the president of Allegheny Steel and retired in 1962. According to the school, the sciences, especially biology-related fields, are its fastest-growing majors.

"This is a transformational gift that will significantly elevate Westminster's ability to attract top student scholars," said Westminster College president Richard Dorman. "A national goal is to increase America's competitiveness in the sciences globally, and this new scholarship program will enhance Westminster's role in achieving that goal."