Letter from Ian Applegate, 2024-25 Scholarship Recipient

1973 Scholarship Fund

Since it was established at our 15th reunion, the Cornell Class of 1973 Scholarship has been helping Cornell undergraduates finance their education. The fund has been growing over the years through classmate donations, and currently we are able to grant a $30,000+ scholarship to a student or students needing financial aid. Generations of class officers have affirmed the Class of 1973 Scholarship as one of the most visible legacies that we can leave to Cornell. How better to leave a mark than establishing a fund that allows multiple students to afford a Cornell education?

We encourage giving to the Class of 1973 Scholarship, and many classmates have made gifts to help others afford a Cornell education. A gift may be made at any time – and many classmates “round up” their class dues to add a little bit to the scholarship fund. As of 2017, twenty students have received help from our scholarship fund. Check out some of the class letters to see their stories.

Class of 1973 Legacy

The class officers have worked to identify a class legacy that we, the members of the Class of 1973, can leave to Cornell which will make an impact on Cornell's future. We have determined that the class legacy should include: Scholarship (we have a Class of 1973 Scholarship which supports at least one student every academic year and will hopefully grow to support additional students), as described above; Mentorship (both of young class officers and graduating students to encourage their support of Cornell as alumni); and Public Service (both through supporting Cornell's initiatives and in our own communities).