ODU Renames Honors College After Perrys’ Gift
April 26, 2018
Perry Library
Old Dominion University's Honors College has been renamed the Patricia and Douglas Perry Honors College in recognition of a gift from the couple to the college. The donation was announced at the April 26 meeting of the University's Board of Visitors.
The Perrys' gift includes the creation of the John and Kate Broderick Opportunity Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to honors students from Virginia based on merit and will cover full tuition and room and board.
The Perrys named the scholarship in honor of Broderick's upcoming 10-year anniversary as president of Old Dominion.
"Kate and I are deeply grateful to Pat and Doug Perry for their generosity, and we are honored that they have created a scholarship in our name," Old Dominion President John R. Broderick said. "Most important, though, is the range of opportunities they will help open up for our gifted students."
Patricia Perry, a former member of Old Dominion's Board of Visitors, graduated with honors from Old Dominion in 1989 while she was raising three children. Douglas Perry is a co-founder of Dollar Tree Stores Inc. and chairman emeritus of its board. He is a former board member of Old Dominion's Educational Foundation.
Old Dominion's main library was named after the Perrys in 1999. They received the University's Batten Award in 1998 for their generosity.
Their gift is part of Old Dominion's $250 million Legacy in the Making fundraising initiative. In addition to tuition and room and board, the Broderick Scholarship will fund opportunities for study abroad, undergraduate research and entrepreneurial ventures.
Created in 1997, the Honors College has grown to 700 high-achieving students from a range of majors. It offers students the opportunity to take more challenging classes, engage in research and community service, and build an e-portfolio. Graduates have gone on to start their own businesses and are contributing in a variety of fields - from actuarial statistics to zoology.
"The Perrys' generosity could not have come at a more beneficial time for the college," said its dean, David Metzger. "The scholarship - named in honor of John and Kate Broderick - will help us attract the best students. And two new initiatives will help us prepare these students to make a difference in the world - an Office of Prestigious Scholarship Support and an Undergraduate Research Honors Scholars program."
