Rockwell estate gift provides for endowed scholarship

by Joyce Shelfo
Published Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011

Holli Rockwell of Boca Raton, Fla., established a planned gift of $3 million to create The Herbert and Holli Rockwell Endowed Scholarship. She will fund the scholarship that bears her and her late husband’s name throughout her lifetime so she can enjoy seeing students benefit from it. Upon her passing, the unfunded amount will be left in her will.

“My husband loved to learn and be a student. I am creating this endowed scholarship to honor his memory.” She continues, “In his estate plan, my husband specifically stated that he wanted to provide for scholarships. I know that he would be very pleased to help students at Lynn University who need financial support.”

Herbert attended college full-time for one year. When war ensued, he enlisted in the military. For the remainder of his life, he took classes at various colleges when his business schedule would allow. In later years, he became a licensed stock broker and real estate agent—just for his own knowledge and use.

Holli has been a neighbor of Lynn University since the 1980s when it was known as the College of Boca Raton. “I used to join a group of women who would hand-address invitations to the school’s ball.” When she toured the university a couple of years ago while the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center was being built, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. “I’m a friend of the arts, especially in my community. This is my home since 1983, and I like to keep things in the neighborhood. And, another way to honor my husband was to name the terrace garden at this beautiful new center.”

Holli commends President Kevin M. Ross for his vision. “He’s taking the university to a different level now and is helping it blossom into a world-wide recognized institution. And, with the final presidential debate coming here next year, Lynn is really being put on the map. My husband would have been so thrilled to hear that the university has been selected for the debate site.”

A bequest such as Holli’s is a clever way to establish an endowed scholarship by funding part of it while she is still able to witness and enjoy the impact of her gift on students. It creates a lasting expression of her personal legacy and allows the endowed fund to grow after her passing.

“With this continued growth of endowments from student scholarships, we will be able to welcome even more deserving students to our campus who otherwise might not have been able to attend Lynn,” says President Ross.