Douglas R. Korn, W’84, and Elizabeth B. Korn

Doug Korn W’84 and his wife Betsy know the tremendous power of a Penn degree. Longtime proponents of financial aid, the Korns have been supporting students at Wharton for years through their own endowed undergraduate scholarship. Now with Doug having recently joined the Board of Overseers at the Graduate School of Education, the couple is taking their philanthropy even further by establishing the Korn Family Scholarship at Penn GSE.

“We have been involved in educational charities and in supporting Penn for a long time, and we now see getting involved with GSE as an uniquely powerful opportunity,” Doug says, “We are excited about the idea of educating future academic leaders at Penn.”

While GSE celebrates a century of expertly preparing the visionary educators of tomorrow, Doug and Betsy hope that their new scholarship will help ensure that the School’s strong tradition of innovation, research, and leadership remains intact.

“GSE has a hugely positive impact on the lives of the students, graduates, and communities that it serves,” Doug says, “It means a lot to think that our gift can help attract and train the talented teachers, leaders, researchers, and innovators who will shape education during the School’s next century.” 

The new scholarship received a matching gift from the Weiss Scholarship Challenge. The Korns hope that their generosity not only assures that students at GSE can flourish, but inspires others to give, as well. 

“Those of us who were fortunate enough to attend Penn received an invaluable and powerful academic experience,” Doug says, “We should remember that our education was enabled in part by those who came before us and supported the University. Those of us who can should endeavor to step up and help pave the way for those who follow us.”

This story originally appeared in the 2013-2014 edition of People Supporting Penn.