Kent State Alum Donates $500,000 for Scholarships

Kent State University announced a $500,000 private donation Wednesday that will benefit students in the College of Business Administration.

Illinois-based businessman Walter Van Benthuysen, a 1961 advertising graduate of the college and native of Canton, Ohio, made a $500,000 philanthropic grant to internships for students in the university’s College of Business Administration. The scholarship awards are given to students who embark on unpaid internships.

Van Benthuysen, in prepared remarks, called his gift to create dozens of Applied Business Experience Awards “seed money” — for both students, as well as other donors.

“It’s seed money for young people in that it gives them the chance to do something they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do,” he said. “And particularly the students at Kent State, who many have to work full time to be able to attend the university, so it’s hard for them to give up whatever job they may have to go off on an internship. This solves that problem for them.”

Van Benthuysen said he wants to inspire other graduates and foundations to support the scholarship program.

According to the university, because many students cannot afford to take such an internship, participation in the program was low — 58 students, or just 1 percent, in spring 2008.

Kristin Williams, business experience manager for the college, said in a press release the college’s near-term goal is to build that to 500 students per year by 2013. More than 60 percent of the internships offered by employers through the College of Business Administration are unpaid.

The Van Benthuysen Applied Business Experience Awards offer $2,000-$4,000 merit-based scholarships for students, depending upon how many hours the internship requires. Students in full-time internships are offered $4,000 because they are the most likely to be unable to work another job to support themselves during the semester.