Valparaiso University Alumnus Supports Business Scholarship

A $1 million gift from the estate of Valparaiso University alumnus William “Bill” Schlender ’41 has significantly boosted a scholarship fund he established in 2007. The preference of the William E. Schlender Endowed Scholarship Fund is to award need-based scholarships to College of Business students of the Lutheran faith who are in their junior or senior year.

Schlender earned a bachelor of arts in business and economics from Valparaiso University. He went on to receive an MBA from the University of Denver and a Ph.D. in philosophy from The Ohio State University.

His distinguished academic career included being a faculty member at Valpo’s College of Business from 1976 to 1986. During that he time, he was the initial recipient of the Richard E. Meier Professor of Management, which he held from 1983 until his retirement in 1986. Previously, he held the Lutheran Laymen’s League Professor of Business Ethics from 1976 to 1983.

“Bill Schlender impacted a countless number of students during his 39 years in academia,” said Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., president of Valparaiso University. “The endowed scholarship he established will ensure that Valpo students will forever benefit from his generosity. For Bill’s legacy and his investment in Valpo’s future, we are deeply grateful.”

Schlender authored and co-authored numerous books and articles, while teaching undergraduate, master’s and/or doctoral courses in business education. During his career in higher education, he held professorships at Valparaiso University, Cleveland State University, University of Texas at Austin, The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, University of Texas at Arlington, Columbia University and the University of Denver.

Bill Schlender’s gift supports Forever Valpo: The Campaign for Our Future, a $250 million endowment campaign that will secure permanent resources for student scholarships, faculty development and programs that prepare students for lives of leadership and service. The Campaign was officially launched on Sept. 23, 2016, and has raised more than $200 million.