Gerald Ellis ’64

There is a painting in the College Success Programs office by a former student now living as an artist in Paris. It is entitled, “The Man Who Showed Us Our Wings.” The man is Gerald Ellis, who for 33 years has told his students, most of whom are poor and the first generation in their families to attend college, “You have wings to do anything you want to do.”

Jerry retired this year, and will continue to help students through the scholarship he established in 2004. One of his goals is to inspire students to give back to the program that helped them succeed. It’s working. Recently, one of Jerry’s students walked into the Foundation Office and said, “I want to honor Jerry Ellis by starting a scholarship. What can I do with just $500?”

Because the Foundation will accept smaller amounts to which additional sums may be added over time, the Jerry Ellis Scholarship Fund was established.

“Just think,” Jerry told a group of students, “If after you graduate just 100 of you gave $10 per month over the next five years, the fund would have an additional $60,000 to help the next generation of students.”