Ursinus College has received a generous gift from an alumna who has chosen to remain anonymous.
The donation will fully fund 50 Experiential Learning Grants. These grants expand hands-on learning opportunities for first-year and incoming students through Ursinus’ APEX program.
In addition to funding the grants, the gift includes $200,000 towards the Ursinus Fund, which supports mission-critical priorities such as financial aid, academic programming, and athletics.
APEX integrates academics with real-world, experiential learning and career preparation. While the components of APEX are included in regular tuition, room, and board, when a student takes on experiences such as an unpaid internship, externship, co-op, study abroad, or mentored research, additional expenses can impact their ability to participate.
The Experiential Learning Grant is designed to remove financial barriers that too often limit access to transformative opportunities.
Beginning fall 2025, all incoming first-year students are eligible for an Experiential Learning Grant. This gift, which supports 50 grants, supports one of the college’s highest priorities: ensuring that every student has access to real-world, career-building experiences—regardless of financial background. “It’s experiences like these that help students build stronger professional networks and a competitive edge, as well as increase job placement and graduate school acceptance rates,” said Rebecca Lyczak, associate dean of undergraduate studies.
Michelle Yurko, vice president of external relations, expressed deep gratitude for the alumna’s leadership and generosity: “This gift reflects our donor’s enduring belief in the power of experiential learning to change a student’s life trajectory, an opportunity that is an Ursinus differentiator. We are grateful for her commitment as part of the Campaign for APEX. Her generosity ensures that all students can confidently pursue the experiences that prepare them for meaningful futures without additional financial burden.”
To learn more about the school’s Experiential Learning and the APEX program, visit Ursinus College.
