Bluffton University receives $500,000 grant from The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation

Bluffton University has received $500,000 from The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, a charitable organization that supports colleges and universities to make a college education more affordable for students. The university has been awarding two Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarships annually, and this additional funding will allow the university to offer scholarships to more STEM students who demonstrate financial need.

According to an article on Bluffton University's website, Dr. Alex Sider, the university’s president, was quoted as saying, “These funds align with Bluffton University’s mission to prepare students ‘for life as well as vocation.’ They not only make a Bluffton education more accessible but also allow us to meet the academic needs of students in high-demand fields. We are grateful to The Knowlton Foundation for this powerful endorsement of our programs.”

The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation has been supporting Bluffton University for years, with the Foundation providing funding for the Austin E. Knowlton Science Center and for an endowment fund to give students scholarships. Austin E. Knowlton of the Knowlton Construction Company was a philanthropist who had a special interest in education, and the Foundation is continuing his legacy by supporting students pursuing higher education.

Edward Diller, who is a Trustee for The Knowlton Foundation, said, As an activist higher education philanthropist, we’re acutely aware of the affordability-value crisis across colleges and universities, and we are deploying funds that schools can use immediately to reduce net costs to students. Our priority with this particular Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship program is to provide funding to schools that are positioning themselves for longer-term success but which will benefit materially in the short term by boosting scholarship aid. The Knowlton Foundation is pleased to continue its relationship with Bluffton University.”

The newest scholarship will be awarded to students beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Preference will be given to students who have received a Knowlton scholarship in the past. The remaining order of preference is first-year students from Ohio; students from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan; and any returning student from Ohio.

Claire Kleman, the interim vice president for advancement and enrollment management, said, “This is an incredible opportunity for our students’ pursuing majors in STEM and more. We’re grateful to The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation for its investment in the future of Bluffton and in the lives of students who will make a difference in their communities and professions.”

For more information about Bluffton University, visit the school’s website.