Alumnus provides largest scholarship gift in university’s history; Investment in the next generation of scientists and leaders comes at a time of global crisis.
William & Mary has received a historic $50 million donation, marking the largest scholarship gift in the university’s history and the biggest-ever for a school of coastal and marine sciences. The transformative gift, made by Dr. R. Todd Stravitz ’82 and the Brunckhorst Foundations, will fully fund tuition for students pursuing W&M’s newly established bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School.
The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program aims to empower the next generation of environmental leaders to tackle global crises such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and environmental degradation.
According to Dr. Stacy Krueger-Hadfield of VIMS in Wachapreague,”the immersion semester will be at Gloucester Point and not in Wachapreague. We will of course continue to offer the very popular field course that brings WM students out to ESL every May. And I do hope that we will have other field courses that use our fantastic location in Wachapreague as the program develops.”
“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Stravitz and the Brunckhorst Foundations,” said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. “This gift removes financial barriers, allowing the brightest minds to access the learning and tools needed to address our planet’s urgent problems.”
This donation builds on the momentum of a $100 million gift from Jane Batten in 2024, which helped establish the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. It also coincides with the launch of Virginia’s first public undergraduate degree in coastal & marine sciences, recently approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
The first cohort of students will begin their studies this fall, kicking off with an immersive semester experience at the Batten School and VIMS campus.
“This gift is about funding tomorrow’s problem-solvers,” said Derek Aday, dean of the Batten School and director of VIMS. “This investment ensures our students can lead where the world needs them most.”
Stravitz, a William & Mary alumnus, emphasized the importance of preparing students for environmental leadership. “Our best hope for solving the environmental crises we face is educating young people to care for and improve our planet,” he said.
The Brunckhorst Foundations, known for supporting medical research and environmental sustainability, have been key partners in the Batten School and VIMS’ mission to promote resilience, conservation, and education.
The announcement aligns with William & Mary’s Year of the Environment, a university-wide initiative focused on advancing sustainability and conservation efforts on campus and beyond.
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