The University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences has received a planned
gift to create the Drs. Henry and Francine Sikorski Endowed Scholarship
Fund in English.
Henry Sikorski, A.B. '70, and his wife, Francine D. Sikorski, made a
generous $1 million bequest to provide scholarship support for UM students
majoring in English. The Sikorskis, of Garden City, New York, are both
professors of English.
The gift will provide life-changing opportunities through vital
scholarships to undergraduate students in the Department of English. The
couple hopes the scholarships will encourage future students to pursue
their dreams while gaining equal access to higher education.
"As educators our entire lives, and as the first generation of our
respective families to complete a college degree, my wife and I believe in
the value and power of higher education to change lives," said Sikorski.
Sikorski credits positive experiences at the University with motivating him
to pursue his graduate studies.
"I received an excellent education at the University of Miami. I was taught
to think critically and to analyze literature thoroughly… I became a
more skilled communicator and a stronger writer."
In his career at Farmingdale State College (SUNY), Sikorski progressed from
tenured full professor into administration, eventually serving as vice
president and chief development officer. Now retired from full-time
service, Sikorski stays busy as an adjunct professor of composition and
literature at Nassau Community College on Long Island, where his wife has
been a professor for 26 years.
"While teaching my introduction to literature classes, I often remember
myself as an undergraduate, and how I was inspired by the English faculty
at the U to pursue a career in academia. My work as a professor of English
literature and composition has been the result of my classroom experiences
at the U over 50 years ago," he said.
The Sikorskis chose to create their gift through a charitable bequest. A
bequest is a popular option for donors considering a charitable gift, as it
can be designated in a will or trust, a bank or retirement account, or even
a life insurance policy. One of the easiest and most flexible ways to make
a planned gift, a bequest allows the donor to retain control over assets
during their lifetime, while making a lasting impact on the University's
future and yielding returns for students, faculty and the entire community
for years to come.
Sikorski expects the bequest to be "transformational in that it will
empower students to complete their studies, to become scholars, researchers
and, most significantly, inspirational teachers.
"My wife and I are convinced that our bequest to the University of Miami
will be one of the best investments in the futures of others we will ever
make."
To explore gift strategies that will meet both your financial needs and
your philanthropic goals, or to learn more about the benefits of making
a charitable bequest, please visit www.miami.edu/plannedgiving or
contact Kyle Paige, executive director, estate and gift planning, at [email protected] or
305-284-2266.
