Salem State University has received a $6 million donation, the largest cash donation ever received by a Massachusetts state university.
Of the donation, $5 million will be used to establish the Viking Completion Grant Endowment, which will aid seniors at the school in paying for their final year of college. The fund will help between 50 and 75 students every year, according to a statement from the university.
The donation was made by Kim Gassett-Schiller, a 1983 graduate of the school, and her husband, Philip Schiller, a fellow at Apple.
“Focusing on college success and degree attainment for all students, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or zip code, is a critical way to maintain the state’s status as a national higher education leader,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Carlos Santiago.
The remaining $1 million will fund other student resources, including the Center for Academic Excellence and the Harold E. and Marilyn J. Gassett Fitness and Recreation Center.
“When we learned that some Salem State students, who achieve so much and are so close to graduating, risk dropping out for financial reasons, we had to step up,” Gassett-Schiller said. “This gift will remove that risk and make earning a Salem State degree possible.”
