By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

For countless young men across the country, attending college is little more than a pipe dream. Regardless of grades, work ethic, or motivation, they simply lack the necessary means to continue furthering their education. While some individuals may have the idea that acquiring student loans and funding is a viable option for everyone, in reality, it can be a long and arduous process which often ends with only partial funding. This can be particularly troublesome for a first-generation college student whose family is navigating the maze of financial aid bureaucracy for the first time as well. The importance of scholarships to aid these students through their journey into higher education cannot be overstated. Not only do they offer assistance in trying to gain an education, scholarships also lighten the load of student loan debt following the completion of their degree.

Through generous donations by alumnus Jon Hays, Old Dominion ’07, and Mike Rosser, Colorado State ’61, the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation now offers two additional endowed named scholarships. We asked Hays and Rosser about what drove their decision to endow these new scholarships, and for both men the answer was quite clear—to help those who have a need, and who themselves, are dedicated to giving back. Both the Jon F. Hays Scholarship Fund and the Rosser-Call Volunteer Support Scholarship are tailored to brothers with a history of service. Beit military, first responders, or volunteer work for Hays, or time spent with SeriousFun Camps for Rosser; these two men are committed to a life in service of others and are now offering support to those who do the same.

After passing his 80th birthday, Rosser was inspired to leave a lasting legacy on an organization that was so helpful to him as a student. Reflecting upon not only his volunteer experiences, but also his wife’s, Rosser was inspired to give back and endow this new scholarship. For Hays, the decision was simple, to give back to those who were in a similar situation to himself. As a first-generation college student, Hays had to figure out how to pay for his education on his own. Now that he is in a place to help another, it seemed almost implicit that he would do so. Both Rosser and Hays hope that their generosity will inspire fellow brothers of our organization to do the same. To use Rosser’s own words, he hopes that brothers with the means will think, “If Rosser can do that, I can at least double or triple it!”

With less than 24 hours until our second annual Founders Day of Giving, we hope that these two exemplary brothers will be an inspiration to all. We do not expect all brothers to go above and beyond and endow a scholarship tomorrow, but we hope the spirit of generosity shared by Brothers Rosser and Hays helps guide your donation to the Founders Day of Giving.

For more information on scholarships click here. Scholarship applications are due April 15th, 2022.