Prioritizing the Generations to Come

Prioritizing the Generations to Come

Dr. Robert and Dolores Lorenz have been active supporters of Northern Kentucky University's Biological Sciences Department for almost 30 years now. Recognizing how this institution has impacted their lives and supported their aspirations, they've agreed that giving back to NKU is a priority.

The pair have both used their NKU education to serve and take care of others in the medical profession. As the first NKU student to attend medical school, Bob looks back on his experience with immense gratitude. "I feel lucky that I was able to attend this university. And it was all by chance that the closest place to home turned out to be the best place for me," he says.

The Lorenzes shared that their motivation behind establishing the Dr. Robert and Dolores Lorenz Scholarship in Biological Sciences grew over time. "It was a natural progression from the yearly donations we had been making for a while," he says, "I felt a responsibility to give back to the school that had done so much for us."

This endowed scholarship helps fund education for students interested in the medical field. But the couple's philanthropic goals don't stop there. Additionally, they have decided to invest by making a planned gift that includes NKU as a beneficiary in their estate plan. This planned gift will deepen the impact of their support and strengthen their effort to inspire others. Bob shares, "We hope our actions will advance the concept that by helping someone, it generates a chain reaction - encouraging those who receive help to do the same for others in the future."

Universities that are centuries old have created a chain of giving from one generation to the next. The Lorenzes wish to partake in this kind of generational support here at NKU. "During my time here, it struck me that a university could be flexible enough to steer individual students in the direction they aspired to go," he says, "It's that kind of student-oriented philosophy that makes NKU such a special place. We want to support that kind of approach."

As the first person in his family to go to college, Bob knows how necessary financial assistance is for people who want to transform their lives through higher education. He's never forgotten the appreciation he felt to receive help from others during his time in the program. The Lorenzes both believe that if students are looking to grow and pursue education, they want to return their good fortune to support the goals of those future generations. "We have been so very fortunate. Sometimes I sit back and marvel at how I have all of these incredible experiences to look back on," Bob says, "I believe we all have priorities in life, and whatever they may be, I think that you should support them however you can."