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Engineering School Receives Transformative Gift from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
In summer 2025, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation made an $11 million investment in the University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. Their far-reaching investment will benefit the Clark Scholars Program, assist veterans with tuition, provide enrichment programs for transfer students, fund student community impact initiatives, and support the Engineering School’s planned Whitehead Road Engineering Academic Building.
The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation concluded its operations at the end of 2025 as part of its planned spend down. Founded to invest in the communities and causes most important to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, the Foundation concentrated on strategic investments that would endure well beyond its sunset. The endowed Clark Scholars Program will exist in perpetuity and stands as a testament to that vision.
This investment underscores the depth of the Clark Foundation’s long-standing support for UVA. In 2017, the Foundation gave $15 million to create the UVA Clark Scholars Program. This investment was matched by the University with Bicentennial Scholars Funds to realize a $30 million endowed fund, the largest single endowed fund in support of UVA Engineering.
Created by the Clark Foundation, the University of Virginia Clark Scholars Program combines engineering, business, leadership, global engagement, and community service. The program aims to graduate Scholars with little to no student loan debt, and for its graduates to join an alumni network of other civically minded, socially conscious engineering leaders. Clark Scholars Programs have also been implemented at 10 other top engineering institutions in the nation.
“The Clark Foundation made a profound difference in the lives of many students through the Clark Scholars Program, and we are truly grateful for this contribution to expand the program and create new ways of supporting our community,” said Jennifer L. West, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Saunders Family Professor of Engineering. “With this new support, we can further enhance the educational experiences and opportunities for our Clark Scholars, ensuring they are well-prepared to become leaders in their fields and communities and that the impact of A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation endures.”
UVA Engineering’s undergraduate program will benefit from this most recent investment through additional endowed funding for UVA Clark Scholars to participate in summer courses and programs, as well as support for UVA Clark Scholar alumni pursuing graduate engineering degrees at UVA.
The investment will also create tuition assistance for veterans and enrichment programs for transfer students enrolled in UVA’s undergraduate engineering programs. Improving the lives of veterans and their families was a strategic focus of the Clark Foundation. The most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings named UVA as #8 on the list of best colleges for veterans.
Community impact, another long-standing priority of the Clark Foundation, will also be strengthened through this support. A new endowed fund will educate UVA Engineering students on philanthropy and grantmaking for community impact, supporting coursework and a cohort-based fourth-year capstone project that will culminate in social impact grants to causes in the Charlottesville area.
A portion of the investment will also support UVA Engineering’s new Whitehead Road Engineering Academic Building, helping to create student-oriented design and maker spaces within the transdisciplinary research and teaching facility. The Clark Foundation’s building support will be matched with University funds.
“We were thrilled to deepen our partnership with UVA Engineering and to support initiatives that will shape future engineering and global leaders,” said Joe Del Guercio, emeritus president and CEO of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. “Projects like these ensure that the legacy of the Foundation will inspire students and faculty for generations to come.”
The Clark Scholars Program is designed to support students with the highest financial need. Since its creation, the program has supported 128 UVA Engineering students with scholarships, along with academic and experiential learning aligned with the UVA CSP core pillars of global engagement, business acumen, service and leadership.
More than 65 students are currently in the program. Most are from Virginia and one-third are first-generation college students.
New cohorts of scholars participate in a summer intensive program prior to their formal matriculation at UVA, helping them transition to college and build a strong foundation for academic success. To develop business acumen and leadership skills, scholars take at least two business courses and engage with leaders throughout their time at UVA. Scholars also take part in an annual individual volunteer service experience and a cohort-based capstone project that serves a community to which each Clark Scholar is connected.
This past summer, UVA’s Clark Scholars gained global insight when they traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark, exploring cutting-edge innovation and sustainability through hands-on learning and cultural immersion.
The Clark Scholars Program also creates a community of practice comprised of faculty and program directors and engages with a growing Clark Scholars Program Network across the country.
