UNC announced the creation of a new scholarship for undergraduates studying the humanities, after sharing news of a major investment by an alumnus on Tuesday.
Stephen Israel, a former vice chairman of the consulting firm Korn Ferry and UNC graduate in the Class of 1966, gifted $10 million to the university with the goal of creating a new scholarship to reward students pursuing or exploring majors in English, comparative literature, classical archaeology, history, philosophy, religious studies, and more.
The program, named the O.B. Hardison Scholarship, is in honor of the late UNC professor and Renaissance scholar whose courses Israel says changed his life.
“I started as a business major, but unexpectedly during my junior year, I took Hardison’s courses on John Milton and the Renaissance in English Literature, and my world changed forever,” Israel shared in a university release about the scholarship. “A well-rounded liberal arts education is so crucially important today. I see evidence of it all around in my work. Studying the humanities instills wisdom, discernment, strong communication skills and good character no matter the career choice. My liberal arts education at Carolina expanded my world and my life. All Carolina graduates should have that opportunity as well.”
Israel said he hopes the $10 million is just the beginning for renewed focus and support for the humanities at UNC, calling for alumni and community members to financially support distinguished professorships, graduate student fellowships, and department grants. He said his hope is to reach $100 million and cement the humanities’ position on the flagship Chapel Hill campus.
“I see this scholarship as an anchor for a much larger Renaissance at Carolina focused on the importance and relevance of the humanities,” said Israel. “I am challenging others to join me in leading the resurgence of the liberal arts at Carolina, and for that matter, around the world. The first step is building the Hardison Scholarship endowment. The larger goal is to raise $100 million for the humanities more broadly at UNC-Chapel Hill.”
Stephen H. Israel ’66 invests $10 million in the O.B. Hardison Scholarship for the Humanities, igniting a ‘Humanities Renaissance’ at Carolina: https://t.co/kIPT8txrj2 pic.twitter.com/QwN9jUGkX8
— Here At UNC (@HereAtUNC) March 19, 2024
UNC said around 80 percent of their undergraduate students at the university leave UNC with at least one major from the College of Arts and Sciences, which most of the humanities fall under. Jim White, who serves as the dean of the college, said Israel’s gift will help demonstrate how critical liberal arts educations are for shaping people’s lives and careers.
“The liberal arts are about how the arts and humanities, social sciences and natural sciences work together to make students more prepared for life, and for all of their future careers,” said White. “This thoughtful gift from Steve is a resounding vote of confidence in the College as we strive to maintain and demonstrate the power of a liberal arts education and re-affirm the humanities as a cornerstone of an excellent education and a foundation for our democracy. Carolina was founded over 200 years ago to educate Americans so that they could own and keep our then fledgling democracy. That mission remains, perhaps even more so today. The strength of our democracy depends on the liberal arts.”
While the scholarship supports undergraduate students with humanities majors, Israel stressed in Tuesday’s announcement that they do not have to immediately declare as one in order to benefit from the Hardison Scholarship. Undecided students and those looking to double major will also be allowed to apply once the program goes live.
“The scholarship is as much, if not more so, for the undecided student as for those who are already interested in the humanities,” Israel said. “I am sure there are other alumni who agree and who will join the University and me in supporting this scholarship.”
UNC’s full announcement about the O.B. Hardison Scholarship can be found on the university’s website.
Featured photo via UNC/Johnny Andrews.
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