Lasting Legacy
As dedicated husband and father, amazing friend, and successful bond and currency broker, Scott McGovern, B.S.’87, shared his life and love with others. He now also shares his name with The University at Albany Foundation’s largest endowed undergraduate scholarship.
The Scott M. McGovern ’87 Memorial Scholarship honors the UAlbany alumnus, who lost his life during the World Trade Center terror attacks Sept. 11, 2001. The fund offers renewable support to incoming freshmen who demonstrate financial need and academic achievement.
With a $50,000 gift presented during last February’s Big Purple Growl & Ferocious Feast, the endowment’s total value exceeded $1 million.
Many of McGovern’s UAlbany classmates, including Doug Ketterer, B.S.’87, and Jim Neiland, B.A.’87, joined his wife, Jill, in establishing the scholarship fund in 2003. Every year since, they’ve raised funds for it by welcoming about 150 golfers and dinner guests to the Scott McGovern Memorial Golf Tournament.
Eighty-one scholarships totaling nearly $210,000 have been granted to students in McGovern’s name over the past 15 years. Folasade Kola, a business major with a concentration in finance and management and a sociology minor, is a three-time recipient.
“There isn’t much money at home to pay for my college fees, so I’m very grateful for the McGovern Scholarship,” noted Kola. The UAlbany senior, who plans a career in finance or human resources, added, “I will continue to strive and graduate with honors in 2019 with the help of this scholarship.”
Like Kola, Scott McGovern studied business at UAlbany. He also played intramural softball and floor hockey, worked at the University Library – and “was the best friend you could have,” recalled Ketterer.
“Throughout his all-too-short life, he always put others first. We are thrilled not only to see Scott’s name and memory kept alive through this scholarship, but also through the approach to helping students obtain their degrees from UAlbany. I’m sure Scott is getting a big kick out of watching all this from Heaven,” Ketterer observed.
Added Neiland: “Making something good come out of the tragedy of losing Scott has been a remarkable process for all of us. Knowing that we’re able to help the McGovern Scholars pay for college, prosper, and ultimately graduate is the best payback we can receive.”
Jill McGovern is “touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support” McGovern Scholarship supporters have shown for her husband. “Reminiscing about him at the golf tournament – which has perfect weather each year because Scott looks out for us – is what I enjoy most. The fact that this scholarship is worth more than $1 million now is an amazing and meaningful tribute to the kind and generous person Scott was. We are pleased to be assisting so many worthy students. It is truly fitting that he continues to help others.”