Authentic partnerships and connections provide an important foundation for everything we do at the University of Georgia School of Law. A perfect example is the recent coming together of the University of Georgia Foundation and graduates and friends to increase scholarship support for our student body, including the creation of four new funds, according to School of Law Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge.
At the start of UGA’s new fiscal year on July 1, UGAF announced a limited opportunity for donors to have their gifts matched for the creation or expansion of scholarships. For the law school, it meant 15 new commitments – valued at $750,000 – that will benefit hundreds of students in the years to come.
Among the funds affected are: the Barrett Law Scholarship, the Dove Family Student Leadership Scholar Fund, the Judge B. Avant Edenfield Scholarship, the Stacey Godfrey Evans Scholarship, the Kenneth M. Henson Distinguished Law Fellowship, the Law School Mission Endowment, the Rajesh "Raj" Mehta Memorial Endowment for Family Justice, the Robert E. (Robbie) Robinson Endowment, the Peter B. (Bo) Rutledge Family Scholarship, the Peter J. Shedd Scholarship, the Reggie and Leigh Smith Law School Scholarship, the George Gardiner Thompson Scholarship, the Gabriel M. Wilner Scholarship, the Joel O. Wooten Distinguished Law Fellowship and the Zimmerman Family Endowment.
A 2014 alumnus who saw the value in this partnership is David B. Dove, who also serves on the Law School Association Council and is a member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. David said he and his wife Courtney “feel strongly that investment in a scholarship fund not only ensures the success of Georgia Law for the next generation, but also provides the opportunity to directly impact the lives and future success of our students.”
Rutledge said, "I cannot thank the Doves and the other 14 donor families enough for believing in the law school and our vision of being one of the best returns on investment in legal education. I am also grateful to UGA President Jere W. Morehead (J.D.’80) and the UGA Foundation, under the leadership of Chair Allison C. Ausband, for their ongoing support."
He added that through the strength of these relationships, the School of Law is redefining what it means to be a great national public law school – one that provides a world-class, hands-on and purpose-driven educational experience with a deep commitment to affordability.