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Giving

Alumnae Come Full Circle with the Centennial Circle

It was a quiet act. In 1987, Sheldon "Shelly" Lippe, MD, a Dartmouth College alumnus and 1961 graduate of the medical school, designated Dartmouth as the owner and beneficiary of his life insurance policy. His instructions were simple: upon his death, half should go to the College and half to the medical school to support scholarships. "Looking forward to the continuation of our great institutions," he signed the letter outlining his wishes.

Lippe passed in 1992, but his legacy lives on. His gift of $100,000 in 1992 established the Sheldon Lippe '61 DMS Scholarship endowment—which has grown to over $400,000 and has benefitted dozens of students. Annual distributions from the fund provide critical scholarship support to about four students every year. Because Lippe chose to establish an endowment, the impact of his gift endures, growing stronger over time and making medical school possible for more and more students.

The Increasing Need

In the 2018-2019 academic year, Geisel awarded $4.4 million in scholarship aid to students, fueled by the generosity of past and present Geisel alumni and donors. Still, the need grows greater every year, as the average medical school debt for the graduating class rose to $184,000 in 2018. Although that is lower than the national average, it can be daunting for someone who still has many years of training ahead, especially those planning to work in underserved communities or primary care. That's why every gift to scholarships can make a dramatic difference for students now and in the future.

To meet this need and lower student debt, Geisel has set an ambitious goal of raising $20 million in new scholarship support, as part of the school's Interaction campaign. For more information on giving to scholarships and how to establish your own named scholarship endowment or to make a yearly gift, email Julie.P.Bressor@dartmouth.edu or call 603-653-0742.


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