Oakland University president's $1.33M gift expands select leadership scholarships

Oakland University is expanding a leadership program for students with a $1.33 million donation President Ora Pescovitz has added to a scholarship program she created three years ago.

The Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship supports a program in OU's Honors College providing a select few students with tuition coverage up to four years and including mentoring, counseling, travel, opportunities for collaborations in humanitarian projects and exposure to campus speakers.

The aim of the merit-based scholarship is to nurture exceptional individuals and foster the next generation of community, civic, health, scientific, art, communication and business leaders, the OU president said.  

"People don’t necessarily think of Oakland as the kind of institution that attracts meritorious, academically talented students," Pescovitz said. "I want to attract students with strong academic credentials but who have also demonstrated altruistic accomplishments. There are student who are extremely gifted and will go on to be the next generation of leaders."

It is the second gift the OU president has made to the Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship fund, which she established in 2021 with $1 million.

So far, four students have benefitted. The additional money would finance eight students annually, doubling the current number.

To land the scholarship, students have to show academic success, problem-solving skills and a commitment to their communities. They also must submit a 1,000-word essay with an application that describes their leadership roles, how they created or supported initiatives to ensure the success of others, their goals and aspirations for the future.

"It is to attract these kind of students who frankly could go to anywhere in the country because they are so gifted," Pescovitz said.

The $1.33 million donation brings Pescovitz’s giving to OU to $3.16 million in gifts and commitments since her tenure started in 2017, benefitting more than 50 areas across the university, officials said.

"When you look at Ora's giving compared to her salary, she is almost working for free at OU," said Mike Westfall, vice president of university advancement.

Pescovitz's base salary is $517,673 per year.

"She is like the university's ATM," Westfall said. "She is always supporting the university. ... She is passionate about everything. She is passionate about the university. She truly loves the university. She is always trying to make things better."

If Oakland University is asked to sponsor an event or host a table at an event and it's not in the university's budget, the president often will pay for it out of her own pocket, Westfall said.

Pescovitz's giving to OU has surpassed that of former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, who has been the most philanthropic president in UM’s history. Coleman and her husband have given $2.4 million to the Ann Arbor university to support areas including scholarships, student success, international experiences for students, music and art.

In 2021, Pescovitz created two endowments with gifts and commitments of $500,000. A third endowment was created in 2020 with a gift of $25,000. The endowments include the Malouf, Pescovitz, Ruchim Family Endowment for Global Student Experiences; the Rabbi Richard G. and Bella Hirsch Faculty Endowment for Racial and Social Justice Endowment; and the Bella Rozencweig Hirsch Endowment for Biomedical Ethics.

She also has given to other initiatives at Oakland University including music, theater and dance, nursing and medicine.

kkozlowski@detroitnews.com