A recent gift of $200,000 from Phil Jenkins, friend and local philanthropist, will fund scholarships for returning students in EMU’s leadership and counseling program. Jenkins’ generosity supports the Jenkins-Tracy Expendable Scholarship fund, which provides tuition support to a cohort of students during a three- to four-year period while they complete their master’s degrees.

This year, the primary focus of the Jenkins-Tracy Scholar Program is students who have “stopped out” of the educational leadership or counseling program. “Most of our educational leadership and counseling students work during the day and take classes at night,” said Jaclynn Tracy, head of the Department of Leadership and Counseling in the College of Education.

“At some point, many decide they just don’t have the finances or the time to complete their coursework, and in some cases never complete their degree. We’re hoping these scholarships can be a recruitment tool to encourage them to come back and complete their degrees.”

Scholarship recipients are selected from on and off-campus centers and the Weekend University, thus enhancing opportunities for students across southeast Michigan.

Jenkins, an Ann Arbor resident, founded Sweepster, Inc., which manufactures attachment, walk-behind, self-propelled and airport runway sweepers for all types of equipment used around the world. His unselfish philanthropy also has funded the creation of the Generations Together center in Dexter, Mich. As well, he is an avid supporter of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and the Ann Arbor Neutral Zone.

With his scholarship gifts to EMU, Jenkins hopes to help address a critical shortage of trained school administrators and counselors in the state and nation. EMU’s leadership and counseling program is nationally acclaimed and prepares individuals for the challenges and rewards they will meet in their professional lives.