$3 million Walcott Estate Gift benefits University of Akron students

Estate gifts can make an enormous impact when applied to student scholarships. The late Betty Walcott, a devoted friend who lived in service to The University of Akron (UA), established the Betty Gill and Donald P. Walcott Endowed Scholarship in 2002. Today, through the generosity of gifts received through her estate, the endowment is now valued at $3 million. The largest single-donor funded endowed scholarship in UA’s College of Business, her generosity provides academic undergraduate financial support to deserving business students.  

Betty Walcott attended UA, where she met her husband, the late Donald Walcott, a 1958 Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences alumnus. She established the scholarship to honor her husband and to reflect her belief in the impact of higher education.  

An Akron native, she was an emeritus member of the UA Foundation Board of Directors and served for more than a decade on the Foundation’s Stewardship Committee. Always willing to share advice and join in service, she received The University of Akron Foundation’s Elizabeth Buchtel Award in 2010, recognizing her significant philanthropy and impact on students. 

Additionally, she was a member of The 1870 Society and the Founder’s Club of the John R. Buchtel Society.  

University of Akron President R.J. Nemer lauded Mrs. Walcott’s philanthropy and service to UA for the impact the scholarship will have on students.  

“Throughout her life, Betty Walcott represented the best of The University of Akron. An engaging leader and public servant, she was someone who shared her talents and resources to promote the institution she loved,” Nemer said.  “Her impact, like the life she led, points the way to the future and continues to resonate to the benefit of others.”  

“Betty’s extraordinary gift is a testament to her unwavering commitment to student success,” said Executive Director of the UA Foundation, Kim Cole. “Her vision to equip future generations of business leaders aligns perfectly with our mission. Her desire to honor her husband’s legacy by fostering excellence is inspiring.”  

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu