Richard and Donna Wilson Scholarship

Richard and Donna Wilson did not take an active part in the affairs of California Lutheran University, but they did the next best thing—they enrolled two of their sons as students because they wanted them to receive a quality education. Their expectations were high but fortunately CLC met those expectations.

Richard and Donna had met in Minnesota. Donna had been homecoming queen in Monticello and Richard had been valedictorian of his senior class in Buffalo. They were privileged to share 45 years of marriage. Their family included three sons—Greg, Brad and Jeff. Greg and Brad went to CLC, graduating in 1978 and 1981, respectively. Both majored in geology. (For those interested in reading these scholarship stories, there are two more involving Brad—the Brad and Lisa Wilson Scholarship and the Care of the Earth Endowment.)

Brad served as trustee of his parents’ estate, and the Richard and Donna Wilson Scholarship was established in 1998 according to their wishes. Because of the value they placed on academic excellence, the number one criterion for a recipient of this scholarship is a minimum 3.5 grade point average, with no specific major required. The scholarship may be awarded to an incoming freshman and is renewable for three years, as long as the recipient continues to qualify.