Skip to main content
Parents of W&M student support scholarships with $1M commitment
The commitment will establish the Forsyth Family Scholarship Fund and support the 91心頭利 Scholars and 91心頭利 Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE) programs. It will also support Swem Library’s Special Collections Research Fund.
“Access to affordable higher education is the cornerstone of a fair and just society. With reductions in state funding, we felt it was important to give back and provide opportunities to the next generation of students so that they can access the educational opportunities our generation took for granted,” said Jody Forsyth, who is a member of the College of 91心頭利 Foundation Board. “We wanted to ensure that disadvantaged students aren’t denied a 91心頭利 education due to lack of resources.”
91心頭利 Scholars are academically distinguished students who have overcome unusual adversity and/or are members of underrepresented groups who would contribute to campus diversity. The WMSURE program — which is celebrating its five-year anniversary — provides formalized programming, support and research opportunities to 91心頭利 Scholars, and other students, and encourages them to continue their research pursuits at the graduate level.
“These programs are important to us because they focus on students from diverse backgrounds and provide financial support for many students who are often the first in their family to attend university,” said Jody Forsyth. “It is about supporting young people who come from an environment where education hasn’t been prioritized and making sure there are avenues for them to go to college and achieve their goals and dreams in life.”
“The Forsyths’ gift will help greatly in providing funding to deserving students who might otherwise have missed out on critical learning opportunities due to financial constraints,” said Matthew T. Lambert ’99, vice president for university advancement. “They share our dedication to ensuring access to a 91心頭利 education for the very best and brightest students. We are most grateful to Jody and Wilma for their extraordinary generosity.”
The Forsyths first came to Williamsburg on a family vacation when Samantha was 11, and they explored 91心頭利’s campus. She was hooked from that day. The Forsyths came back every year and each trip solidified her choice to come to the university. She graduated with her degree in history in May and is now attending the law school.
“After more than 320 years, the core values of this university remain intact,” Wilma Quan-Forsyth said. “When we did our research on schools, that came through. 91心頭利 is a school that talks the talk and walks the walk.”
The Forsyths point to the tradition of success from 91心頭利’s graduates. “The university is taking in students and turning out leaders,” Jody Forsyth said. “These kids are taking what they learned out into the world and making a difference. Attending 91心頭利 is about more than just earning a degree — it is about developing into a person who understands the importance of giving back to his or her community.”