Alaine Weiss credits her time as an undergraduate at Michigan State University as one of the most impactful experiences in her life and her years in East Lansing among her most treasured memories. But the road to becoming a Spartan was difficult, having lost both her parents due to extended illnesses when she was just 11 years old. Were it not for the financial aid she received, the 1972 MSU graduate says she may have not been able to earn her B.A. in English.
“Those seven years after my parents passed away were really rough. I have five siblings and we were all raised by different families within our constellation of aunts and uncles. My educational future was uncertain,” Weiss said. “By the time I graduated from high school, I had no realistic idea of how I would pay for college. But I received a good financial aid package from MSU, which was really important to me. That had a lot to do with why I chose Michigan State.”
Now after much success in their careers, Weiss and her husband, John, are paying it forward in a big way with a legacy gift to support future generations of MSU students who lack the traditional family support and who may be struggling financially, and also to help students who wish to study abroad but can’t afford to do so.
“Our careers were rewarding, and we have resources that we would like to share with people who could really use some support,” Alaine Weiss said. “I know there are many students out there who are struggling because they don’t have that traditional family support and I know from my own experience how much financial aid made a difference.”
The gift from Alaine and John Weiss will create two scholarships for undergraduate students in MSU’s College of Arts & Letters:
Henry and Dolores Walczak Memorial Scholarship in honor of Alaine’s parents, which will support students who were raised in foster or kinship care or who have experienced homelessness and are academically qualified to attend the university but are at risk because they are unable to cover all their expenses.
Alaine and John Weiss Scholarship for Study Abroad for students who wish to study abroad but lack the financial means required.
“Alaine’s and John’s gift is a beautiful example of how Spartans pay their gratitude forward to help future generations experience the transformative power of an MSU education,” said Christopher P. Long, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and Dean of the Honors College. “Alaine’s is a story of resilience and passion, and this gift will have an enduring impact on our College and our students. We are grateful for their generosity and commitment.”
To read more, go to cal.msu.edu.
