President Joseph E. Nyre and First Lady Kelli Nyre announced that they will launch the Nyre Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. Their donation is worth $100,000, which will be used for student scholarships and faculty awards.

The gift is in conjunction with the “Iona Forever Campaign,” which celebrates the College’s 75th anniversary.

“Kelli and I believe in the campaign’s impact on future generations of Gaels and are grateful for the support of our loyal alumni,” President Nyre said in a Campus Communique. “We see firsthand the transformational impact the College has on students.”

The gift will help to offset the cost of tuition for students as it will be used for scholarships.

“We really think scholarship is important,” First Lady Nyre said. “We understand firsthand the cost of college and paying off loans. Since we’ve arrived here, affordability has been a focus. We’re happy that we can underwrite a scholarship fund for students.”

The gift will also be used to help fund faculty and staff awards. The awards will be given in recognition of excellence in teaching, research done by faculty members and students, integrated-service learning and service to Iona.

“We see the strength of our faculty; we believe in our faculty,” First Lady Nyre said. “We see how they impact students.”

This gift is not the first time the Nyres have made donations to the College; over the last few years, they have contributed to faculty awards.

The Nyre family’s gift will also be used to help fund new buildings on campus.

To learn more about the plans for the construction of new facilities and the rest of the “Iona Forever Campaign,” log onto www.iona.edu/ionaforever.