Michael I. & Elizabeth Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund

How we got started

At the Bennett Family reunion held June 26, 1999, Tom Rigoli, husband of Michelle "Mickey" Bennett, proposed that a family scholarship be established in memory of Mickey's grandparents, "Mac" and Libby," and the family values they espoused. He also pledged to match initial donations up to a maximum of $1,000 to get the scholarship program off the ground.

Tom's proposal gained traction in April 2005 when Michael I. Bennett in McLeod, Texas, a grandson of Mac and Libby, pledged to donate $1,000. With Mike’s generous pledge and Tom’s matching funds, the scholarship program was formally launched on June 30, 2005. Since then, more than 30 family members have made donations and eleven family members have received scholarship awards totalling more than $17,000.

Common questions about the scholarship

When are scholarship awards announced?
Twice annually, in January and July for book/tuition expenses to be incurred during the the Winter (1st half) and Fall (2nd half) semesters, respectively.
How often can a family member apply for a scholarship?
As often as the family member needs financial support to help pay for tuition and or books.
What has been the range of scholarship cash awards to date?
From $250 to $1,350 per semester. Amount depends on the number of applicants for a given semester plus how well family donors replenish cash that was awarded over prior semesters. Average total award per scholar over eight year period was more than $1,300.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Donations are not tax-deductible. Since our scholarship program supports family members only, it does not qualify to be a non-profit, which must not be non-exclusive in the support it offers.
When and why was this scholarship established?
The scholarship was proposed by Tom Rigoli (Los Altos, CA) at a Bennett family reunion in June 1999 and formally launched six years later in June 2005, when Michael I. Bennett (McLeod Texas) became the first family member to make a donation. The scholarship honors the memory and family values of Michael I. & Elizabeth (“Mac” & “Libby”) Bennett.
How many family members have donated funds and what has been the range of their donations?
Not including spouses, 25 family members have made donations, several of whom have made repeat donations. Donations have ranged from $25 to $2,000 per year.
How much cash has been awarded to family scholars since the program began?
More than $17,000 has been awarded to 13 family scholars over the past eight years — thanks to the generous and continuing donations made by family members.
Who administers the scholarship fund?
The fund is administered by Anne Marie Kratzer on a totally volunteer basis. Any further questions should be emailed to her at bennettscholarship@gmail.com.