There are many steps on the path to academic success at the Valenti School of Communication. Our students come from all walks of life and many of them are handling adult responsibilities at home along with the academic demands of university life. One way that Valenti tries to bridge this gap is with scholarships and endowments.

Every student has a story. We know that a financial endowment positively impacts their lives and contributes to student success. But how were these endowments created? What is the story behind the gift, and what motivated these families to create this legacy?

We all see the names around campus on buildings and statues. The history of the University goes hand-in-hand with the history of its donors. 

Many Valenti donors are former students or were active in the media at the time of their endowment. Welcome W. Wilson Sr. worked closely with publications like The Cougar and Houstonian yearbook. In the case of John L. Scardino, he was not a UH student himself but contributed to the University as the printing shop for its publications.

No matter the connections, there are family ties to the University and its School of Communication.

In this series, Valenti will be looking into the timeline of these families and their connections to UH, as well as the impact these scholarships and endowments have on the students who earn them. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!