Bunton-Waller legacy strengthened with $1M enrichment fund in Liberal Arts

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A recent seven-figure commitment from the Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation will establish the College of the Liberal Arts Bunton-Waller Enrichment Fund, an endowment that will expand access to internships, research, study abroad and other career-defining experiences for Bunton-Waller Scholars in the college.

Calvin H. Waller came to Penn State from Georgia to study agriculture at a time when opportunities for Black students were limited in the United States. He became the University’s earliest known Black graduate in 1905 and later carried that education to Texas, supporting Black farmers through agricultural education and extension work.

Mildred Settle Bunton’s Penn State story followed a generation later. Raised in poverty, she entered Penn State in 1929 and worked to cover room and board while relying on loans and scholarships to pay tuition. A regular presence on the dean’s list, she graduated with honors in 1932 after enrolling at a time when she was the only Black woman on campus.

For more than 30 years, the Bunton-Waller Scholars Program has carried their names forward, supporting high-achieving students as they work toward graduation and what comes next. That legacy is now being strengthened through new philanthropic support.

The Philadelphia-based private foundation focuses on advancing equity and opportunity across various sectors with particular focus on fostering health equity, education and economic empowerment, and on addressing social determinants of health.

“The educational and social opportunities afforded me by Penn State were critical to my personal and professional development. Andréa and I are pleased to provide support for the next generation of Bunton-Waller Scholars as they seek to leave their imprint on our society,” said Kenneth Frazier, a 1975 graduate of the college.

The Bunton-Waller Scholars Program is the University’s long-standing scholarship and support program for high-achieving students. In addition to scholarship assistance, the program offers resources and programming designed to promote academic achievement and engagement.

Separate from scholarship support, the enrichment endowment is intended to bridge the practical cost gap that can accompany internships, research opportunities and education abroad. Support will be available to Bunton-Waller Scholars in the College of the Liberal Arts. Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, said the gift strengthens a crucial layer of support that often determines whether students can fully participate in the experiences that influence their paths beyond Penn State.

“Classroom learning is strengthened when students can apply it in professional and research settings,” Lang said. “This gift helps ensure Bunton-Waller Scholars can pursue experiences that clarify career goals, deepen engagement in their fields and support a strong transition into the next stage of their education or careers.”

Career readiness is a philanthropic priority in the College of the Liberal Arts, and the fund expands access to experiences that strengthen the transition from Penn State to the workplace and graduate study.

“Sometimes the barrier is not whether students are qualified,” Lang said. “It’s whether they can cover the costs that come with the experience.”

Gifts like the Bunton-Waller Enrichment Fund advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.