WCSU Receives $1 Million Donation

DANBURY — Jason and Ellen M. Hancock of Ridgefield are donating $1 million to establish the Jason and Ellen Hancock Student Endowment Fund at Western Connecticut State University. The contribution is the largest private gift ever received by Western.

James R. Roach, Western’s president, thanked the Hancocks for their commitment. Dr Roach also announced that the Hancock contribution has been designated as the university’s first centennial gift, given to the school in recognition of the forthcoming anniversary of Western’s founding in 1903.

“I am pleased with the Hancocks’ very generous donation to Western Connecticut State University. This gift will greatly assist Western students who are deserving of financial aid,” said Dr Roach. “I am most grateful to the Hancocks for this significant contribution to the university.”

The Hancock endowment fund will generate scholarships supporting Western students each year beginning in spring. Fifty percent of the fund’s annual income will provide need-based student scholarships; 25 percent of the income will support student leadership initiatives; and 25 percent of the income will be designated for initiatives to integrate the creative arts and technology at Western, university officials said.

Richard J. Gerber, Western’s vice president for institutional advancement, noted that the Hancock donation is an important endorsement of the university, serving to commemorate Western’s past while looking forward to the school’s future.

“We are particularly please that this contribution comes from a Western alumnus and former faculty member,” Mr Gerber said. Jason Hancock received a master’s degree in English from Western in 1981 and he was also an adjunct professor at the university from 1985 to 1997. Ellen Hancock received an honorary degree from Western in 1993.

Dr Walter Bernstein, Western’s vice president for student affairs, said that the Hancock Fund would have a significant impact on the university’s campus. “The new Student Leadership Program, in particular, will help us better prepare Western students for career advancement in private industry, government service, and/or civic responsibilities,” said Mr Bernstein.

Both Mr and Mrs Hancock are retired from IBM. Mrs Hancock is now Chairman and CEO of Exodus Communications Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. Exodus is a leading computer Web-hosting company with 40 data centers serving over 4,000 customers worldwide.

The Hancocks expressed pleasure at being able to assist Western students. “Our own educational experience greatly and positively affected our personal, professional, and social lives. We decided that the best thing we could do would be to help students achieve success while pursuing their education,” said Mr Hancock.

“Students are the future of our community, our businesses, and our society,” Mrs Hancock added. “We hope the Hancock Fund will motivate Western students to excel in all their pursuits.”