Politics Prof. Larry Sabato has donated $100,000 to launch the Leonard and Jerry Sandridge Bicentennial Scholars Fund this spring. The scholarship is in the name of Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the University from 1993 to 2011, and his wife Jerry S. Sandridge. The need-based endowment will be aimed toward assisting out-of-state students.
“The Bicentennial Scholars Fund is designed to make U.Va.’s third century even more successful than its first two,” Sabato said in an email to The Cavalier Daily. “To me, the fund represents what the Sandridges have consistently stood for: excellence.”
Sandridge said he and his wife are grateful for and honored by the establishment of the Bicentennial Scholarship. He recognized the importance of bringing out-of-state students with unique experiences and from diverse backgrounds to the University, and discussed the positive impact these individuals have on fellow students.
“I think access is what it's all about,” Sandridge said. “It’s trying to make sure that every qualified individual who is capable of doing the work at U.Va., and wants to do it here, at least isn’t prohibited from doing it because they don’t have the financial means to do it.”
Sabato said his personal experiences as an undergraduate student and teacher also taught him the importance of having out-of-state students at the University.
“I’m a native Virginian and was an in-state undergraduate here,” Sabato said. “As a student I benefited enormously from the diverse perspectives of out-of-state students. As a teacher I’ve long seen bright out-of-state students add a great deal to the classroom, enriching the educational experience of in-state students.”
The Sandridge Bicentennial Scholarship is not the first need-based scholarship established in the Sandridges’ names. In July 2011, the Leonard W. and Jerry S. Sandridge Scholarship was established to provide financial support for the children or grandchildren of University faculty or staff.
While working for the University for over 44 years, Sandridge was an advocate for affordability, and helped to create the AccessUVA financial aid program in 2004.
“Over many decades Leonard and Jerry have helped to build the modern University of Virginia in very significant ways,” Sabato said. “They have always put the institution first, and done the right things to push us forward. Their positive imprint is found everywhere on Grounds.”
Because of Sabato’s donation, the fund is eligible to be part of the Bicentennial Scholars Fund matching program, which was established by the Board of Visitors in December. Through it, the University promises a 50-cent match on every dollar for donations to certain undergraduate scholarships of $100,000 or more, and dollar for dollar match on $1 million donations paid within a year.
Sabato said he hopes other alumni will consider making donations to University scholarships.
“I hope all of our loyal alumni will think about establishing a Bicentennial scholarship so that we can continue to bring the nation’s best students to Charlottesville,” Sabato said.
Mark M. Luellen, University vice president for advancement, said in an email statement that other alumni have already shown interest in supporting the Bicentennial Scholarship Program.
“Several dozen alumni and friends have already committed to endowing scholarships as part of the Bicentennial Scholars Fund or are in final conversations with the University and we only went live about ninety days ago,” Luellen said.
Sabato deserves full credit for establishing the scholarship, Sandridge said. He expressed his respect for Sabato as a teacher and defining exemplar of the University.
“I hope that there will be some extraordinary students that will be able to attend the University and have a long fruitful career and a fulfilling life because they were able to take advantage of the scholarships that Larry Sabato has made possible,” Sandridge said.
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