The Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund was endowed by alumna Lorraine Sheehan Wilson and her husband Chris Wilson.
Saint Mary’s College has received the largest scholarship gift in its history from alumna Lorraine Sheehan Wilson and her husband Chris Wilson. The Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund has been endowed with a multi-million dollar gift from the Wilson Sheehan Foundation, which strives to support families and reduce poverty by making a college education more attainable.
According to an article on Saint Mary’s College’s website, President Katie Conboy was quoted as saying of the support from the couple, “We want every qualified student who hopes to attend Saint Mary’s to be able to do so. Through an earlier scholarship gift and their investment in the Office for Student Empowerment, Lorraine and Chris had already demonstrated a deep commitment to student access and success. This new leadership investment in need-based scholarships will allow Saint Mary’s to offer this empowering education to many more students. We could not be more grateful for their support.”
Lorraine and Chris met as first year students in 1981 when Lorraine attended Saint Mary’s College and Chris attended Notre Dame. In the years since their graduation, the couple has remained connected with their alma maters and have been generous with their philanthropy. Lorraine has been a member of Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees since 2022 and became the vice chair in 2024.
Lori Johnson, who serves as the Vice President for Student Enrollment and Engagement, said, “A scholarship gift can transform lives. We know this just by seeing the success of so many Saint Mary’s alumnae who benefited from a scholarship and are now out in the world making contributions to their careers and communities. A scholarship gift is one of the most direct ways to support students. Scholarships make Saint Mary’s College accessible for students and by doing so, open doors to the transformative power of a Catholic, liberal arts education.”
The Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund will be available to students with demonstrated financial need beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. Students who receive the scholarship may be able to utilize the funding for all four years of their Saint Mary’s College education.
While Lorraine described her time in college as “laser-focused” on her academic responsibilities, she also encourages students to explore themselves as people and say “yes” to new experiences. Chris echoed these sentiments by explaining that students in college don’t need to have their exact trajectory mapped from the beginning.
He said, “You don’t have to have your life planned by the time you graduate college. College kids these days, especially at places like Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame, they think they have to have it all figured out and lined up, and they don’t. God willing, there is a long life ahead of you to explore your interests, shift focus a few times, and these diverse experiences enhance your skills and your enjoyment of life.”
Redgina Hill, the college’s Vice President for Belonging, said, “When students graduate empowered and supported, they become leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, and changemakers who carry forward the same spirit of generosity. When we remove barriers to access and participation, we do more than support individual students; we strengthen the entire campus.”
For more information about Saint Mary’s College, visit the school’s website.