An Extraordinary Community

An Extraordinary Community

An Extraordinary Community

WHO WE ARE

Kessler Scholars come from across the country and from every corner of Michigan. They bring different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to this unique community. Their academic interests range across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. And they participate in a wide variety of activities, from playing in the Michigan Marching Band, to writing for the Michigan Daily, to participating in student service organizations like Appreciate + Reciprocate.

But Kessler Scholars share important traits. They are among the first in their families to attend college, they embrace challenges, and they are driven by a belief in giving back to their communities.

Kessler alumni go on to great things — and keep giving back

After graduation, Kessler Scholars succeed in fields such as healthcare, finance, education, public policy, law, and more. Many go on to professional or graduate study at top institutions like Columbia, Northwestern, and Harvard. And Kessler alumni are there for you too, returning frequently to campus to serve as advisors and role models for current students.

WHO IS BEHIND OUR WORK?

The Kessler Scholarship exists thanks to the generosity of two Michigan alumni and their family.

Fred Wilpon is chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Mets baseball team and a longtime real estate developer in New York City. Thanks to a scholarship, he was able to attend the University of Michigan—the first in his family to do so. As a student he met his wife, Judy Kessler Wilpon, a future LSA alumna.

The Wilpons credit their professional success to their time at Michigan. To ensure other students could attend Michigan, regardless of family income, the Wilpon family made a donation to establish the Irene and Morris B. Kessler Presidential Scholarship Fund in 2007, named in honor of Judy Kessler Wilpon’s parents.

Her father, Dr. Morris Kessler, emigrated to the United States from Romania when he was 12 years old. Although he did not speak a word of English when he arrived in the United States, Morris Kessler graduated from Northwestern University at age 19 and went on to earn a degree in dentistry.

“Without this scholarship, I would not be who I am today. I studied Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and I am living in Nashville to pursue a Managed Care Rotational Program at Cigna.”

Ashley Gomez, graduated 2017 | Major: Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience

Current Occupation: Cigna Health Insurance, Nashville, TN

Winter 2019 Events

Thursday, January 17, 2019 from 5:30-7:30pm:
Personal Visioning with ZingTrain

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 from 5:30-7:30pm:
Interviewing with Confidence

Thursday, February 21, 2019 from 5:30-7:30pm:
Midterm Rejuvenation

Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 5:30-7:30pm:
End of Year Celebration

“If going to the University of Michigan is your dream, you should get the chance to live it. The financial burden almost took that dream away from me, and the Kessler Scholars Program gave it back.”

Elena Simpkins, graduated 2010 | Major: Sociology

Current occupation: Ph.D. Student, Kinesiology, University of Michigan

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