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December 9, 1997

WRIGHT STATE, FAIRBORN PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE
$1.5 MILLION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Wright State University and Fairborn Public School students have another opportunity to help finance their education, thanks to a bequest from the estate of Vera T. Schneider, a longtime Fairborn community leader and philanthropist. The bequest provided more than $1 million to the WSU School of Medicine from the William A. and M. Blanche Schneider Scholarship Fund, established in 1981 in honor of Vera Schneider's parents. The scholarship fund gives preference to medical students from Fairborn or Greene County.

"This is a wonderful example of an individual's generosity and commitment to improving the lives of people in the Miami Valley," said Jack B. Fistler, Ph.D., vice president of university advancement at Wright State. "Her support will have a lasting impact on the Wright State School of Medicine and the medical students who receive scholarship support through her gift."

"Wright State medical students have long benefited from the generosity of Vera Schneider," said Kim Goldenberg, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine. "By endowing scholarships that support the education of tomorrow's physicians, her bequest makes a permanent and fitting memorial."

In addition, Schneider bequeathed $500,000 to the Fairborn Public Schools. The money will be used to fund scholarships for graduating students.

"We would like to acknowledge the foresight of Miss Vera Schneider, Dr. Stephen Scovic, who was the previous superintendent of the Fairborn Public Schools, and previous members of the board of education in making these gifts a reality for our students," said Steve Clifton, superintendent of the Fairborn Public Schools. Fairborn schools will grant scholarships to students to attend any accredited vocational school, college, university, or other educational institution.

Schneider, who died in 1996, enjoyed a long career in real estate, civic, political and philanthropic endeavors. Her community activities included serving as chair of the Greene County Republican Party from 1945 to 1952; vice president of the Donor's Development Fund of Greene Memorial Hospital, and the President's Club at Wright State. In 1992, a gift from Schneider spearheaded the construction of an outpatient wing at Greene Memorial Hospital that bears her name.

Schneider was also a strong supporter of the Wright State University School of Medicine, according to Sharon A. Lewis, associate provost for academic administration and support services at Wright State. Schneider also established the Vera T. Schneider Scholarship in 1987 to assist students.

"She loved meeting students," Lewis recalled. "She took such joy in meeting the students who received scholarships."

In a 1994 article in the Dayton Daily News, Schneider said the scholarship fund was a perpetual way of honoring her parents.

"I just wanted to do something lasting in honor of mother and dad," she said. "I was an only child. What good will it do me after I'm gone? To me, it was very simple."

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