WS Chronicle

Dr. Steven and Becky Scott have committed $6.5 million to further the education of first generation college students through Wake Forest’s Magnolia Scholars program.

The majority of the gift will fund scholarships for students who are the first in their families to attend college. It is the second largest commitment to scholarships by individuals in Wake Forest’s history.

Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch announced the gift on campus April 3.

An earlier gift from the Scotts was instrumental in the establishment of the Magnolia Scholars program in 2009. The program, created to provide first generation students financial and academic support to attend Wake Forest, has helped more than 120 students.  The first class of Magnolia Scholars will graduate in May.

“Wake Forest has long been a place of opportunity, as many of the students who attended the Old Campus were the first in their families to attend college,” said Dr. Scott. “Today Becky and I are proud to honor that tradition and continue our support of first generation college students through the Magnolia Scholars program.”

President Hatch said thanks to the Scotts, students will benefit from not only financial aid but mentoring opportunities and assistance in their college transition.

“Inspired by his own experience as a first generation college student, Dr. Scott has shown particular interest in opening doors of opportunity to young people with considerable potential and few resources,” Hatch said. “Through their prior commitments and now because of their transformative leadership gift, the Scott family has made it possible for even more first-generation students to experience Wake Forest.”

Aaron Colston, a junior English major and first generation student from Roanoke, Va., expressed his appreciation for the Scotts’ generosity and described the difference the Magnolia Scholarship has made for him.

“For me, personally, the Magnolia scholarship allowed me to come to Wake Forest,” Colston said.  “Thank you to the Scotts on my behalf but also on behalf of my family. In my family, the bar has been raised and college is an option. It has opened my family’s eyes to a whole different concept of what opportunity looks like.”

Students from North Carolina to the U.S. Virgin Islands with various ethnic and religious backgrounds have become Magnolia Scholars.  The Magnolia Scholars program focuses on early involvement with students to ensure they have the knowledge of and access to the educational and career opportunities Wake Forest provides.  When they arrive at Wake Forest, they are assigned faculty mentors, but they also meet regularly with the director of the Magnolia Scholars program, Nate French.

Dr. Scott served as a member of Wake Forest’s Parents’ Council from 1993 to 1997 and previously served on the Schools of Business Board of Visitors.  Two of his five children, Rob and Marc, are Wake Forest graduates. Rob earned an MBA and medical degree from Wake Forest in 2000. Marc earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wake Forest in 1997 and played on the basketball team.

Dr. Scott is the chairman of Scott Holdings, LLC, a medical investment company. He founded Coastal Physician Group (later named PhyAmerica), a physician-staffing agency, and led Vista Health Plans of Florida before it was sold to Coventry Health Care in 2007.
He is also a member of the board of directors of the Duke University Health System. The Scotts now reside in Boca Raton, Fla.