Paul Buchheit (CWR ’98, GRS ’98, HON ’12)
Creator of Gmail, Angel Investor in 400+ Startups
“The merit scholarship was the No. 1 thing that drew me to Case Western Reserve. It showed that [CWRU] was a place that valued talent and ability. Also, I grew up in a very frugal family, so the idea of taking out a lot of loans and graduating under a mountain of debt seemed unappealing and unwise. Graduating with relatively little debt made me more comfortable with taking the risk of joining a small startup a year after graduation—which is how I ended up being employee #23 at Google.”
Ben Gomes, PhD (CIT ’90)
Chief Technologist, Learning and Sustainability, at Google
“Since I had not done my schooling in the U.S., I had not gone through the standard process for admission and had limited aid and limited access to resources. The Case Alumni Association provided me with critical scholarships for the rest of my academic stay. The scholarships were critically helpful at the time, and I went on to graduate school and eventually a career at Google. Funding a good undergraduate experiential education that builds both experience and critical thinking is more important than ever.”
Brian Keating, PhD (CWR ’93)
Astrophysicist and UC San Diego Chancellor’s Professor
“Case Western Reserve wasn’t just where I went to college—it’s where I became a scientist. The mix of arts, science and curiosity made it my top choice. Coming from a working-class background, scholarships and loans weren’t just helpful—they were the only reason I could attend at all. Thanks to President [Agnar] Pytte’s belief in me, I found my way into research, made lifelong friends, and discovered what it meant to ask hard questions for a living. It’s safe to say I would not be where I am without coming to CWRU. My scholarship didn’t just fund my education— it launched my career, my calling and my lifelong connection to CWRU.”
Bridget Wiles (SAS ’11)
Chief Operations Officer, ADP Urban Planning and Management
“At the time I received the Louis Stokes Fellowship, I was running the nonprofit I founded for youth empowerment, and could not afford graduate school. I would not have been able to fully realize my dreams of continuing our family legacy of building and sustaining communities across the country. I like to think my work and the work of our family companies live at the intersection of urban planning, hospitality and economic empowerment—transforming culture into sustainable wealth. I am so very grateful to everyone who supported me along the way.”
May Wykle, PhD (NUR ’62, ’69; GRS ’81)
Former Dean, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
“Scholarships from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing made my education at Case Western Reserve possible and shaped my journey as a nurse, leader and educator. I am deeply grateful for that support, which opened doors to service and advocacy in nursing. It is a privilege to pay it forward—helping future nurses pursue their dreams and provide compassionate care. Being able to give back to the CWRU community fills me with pride and purpose every day.”
