EU’s School of Business Receives Over $1.5 Million

Many business students take classes in EU’s Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. Photo by Ashley Vanderhoff

The Elmhurst University School of Business has been gifted more than $1.5 million by an anonymous member of the EU Board of Trustees, the university’s Office of Marketing and Communications announced in a press release on Aug. 25.

The philanthropic gift is intended to establish an endowed professorship for a faculty member, as well as a $150,000 scholarship to benefit the School of Business and its undergraduate students, according to the press release.

As explained by the press release, “the donor’s lifelong admiration for Elmhurst University, especially the strength of its mission and impact on students,” motivated them “to seek meaningful, lasting ways to support it.”

“I think so highly of Elmhurst and its focus on being student centered,” said the donor, according to the press release. “Faculty and staff provide students with dedicated guidance and remarkable educational, research, and internship opportunities.”

“There also is a rich environment of collegiality and support,” the donor added via the press release. “Elmhurst wants to create sustainable programs, and works hard to build on its strengths.”

The School of Business offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including ones for accounting, business administration, economics, entrepreneurship, management, and marketing.

“Because the school has many options for growth, I want to give them the flexibility to expand programs and opportunities,” explained the donor, per the press release.

Several faculty members of Elmhurst University expressed gratitude for the donor and their generous donation.

“We are thrilled to recognize this outstanding gift from one of our trustees,” EU President Troy D. VanAken said via the press release. “This commitment from a leader who cares so deeply about this institution will benefit our students for years to come, both through direct scholarship support and by ensuring the finest educational experience.”

“Endowed gifts are among the most meaningful investments donors can make in the future of Elmhurst University,” added Lia Kampman, the university’s vice president for institutional advancement, also per the press release. “This significant commitment will benefit our students, faculty, and academic mission for generations to come.”

“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift,” stated a co-dean of EU’s School of Business, Siaw-Peng Wan, as reported by the press release. “By investing in both student scholarships and an endowed professorship, this generosity will expand opportunity, strengthen academic excellence, and leave a lasting legacy.”

Hamza Denguezli, a senior studying business administration at EU, reflected on what the unexpected massive donation meant to him.

“As an international student, I know how much it means to have that kind of support while you are trying to build real experience alongside your studies,” Denguezli explained. “I would love to see it go toward students who are working hard and just need a little help to keep going. On the professorship side I would love to see someone brought in with real industry experience, someone who can bridge the gap between the classroom and what is actually happening in business right now.”

Denguezli added that he would thank the anonymous donor for seeing the potential in Elmhurst University’s students.

“I would tell them that as someone who came to this country to build something from nothing, having a school that invests in its students the way Elmhurst does made a real difference,” said Denguezli. “So thank you for seeing the value in students who are still figuring it out.”

“One thing I hope is that this kind of generosity inspires more investment across the university, including the arts,” Denguezli continued. “Elmhurst has a lot of creative talent that deserves the same attention.”