$16.5 million gift from Courtney Clark Pastrick and family to university school of engineering

The Vanderbilt University School of Engineering has received a $16.5 million gift from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, a remarkable act of philanthropy that signals both trust in Vanderbilt’s mission and a deep commitment to the next generation of engineers.

The contribution, which will be used to expand the Clark Scholars Program, represents the continuation of a partnership that began eight years ago and has already transformed the lives of scores of students on campus.

Since its launch at Vanderbilt in 2017, the Clark Scholars Program has stood out for its unique mix of financial support, mentorship, leadership training, and service opportunities.

What sets it apart is not simply that scholarships open doors to an elite education, but that the program builds a culture of responsibility and community among its recipients.

Many of the students who enter the program are the first in their families to attend college, or they represent backgrounds historically underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Clark Foundation’s support makes it possible for academically gifted students to pursue engineering degrees without the constraints of financial burden, while connecting them to opportunities to serve and lead in Nashville and beyond.

For students, the program has meant far more than financial aid. Alumni speak of it as transformative, a turning point in their lives and careers.

Elena Marquez, who graduated in 2022 and is now working as part of NASA’s Artemis lunar mission team, recalls that the Clark Scholars provided her not only with the means to attend Vanderbilt but also with a sense of belonging.

Growing up in a rural town, she had not encountered many engineers or role models in technical fields, but the program immersed her in a community where ambition and service intertwined.

Similarly, current scholar David Li, who will graduate next spring, describes how the program reshaped the way he thinks about his work in computer engineering, encouraging him to apply his skills to projects that improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

For both, the Clark identity has become synonymous with leadership as much as with technical skill.

Administrators emphasize that this spirit of leadership is central to James Clark’s original vision. A civil engineer from modest beginnings who built Clark Construction into one of the nation’s leading firms, Clark believed that an engineer’s duty extended beyond technological know-how to the responsibility of strengthening communities.

The foundation that bears his and his wife Alice’s name has invested in a carefully chosen group of universities across the country that share this commitment. Vanderbilt joined its network in 2016 because it promised to meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for undergraduates, a pledge that aligned seamlessly with the foundation’s mission.

For Vanderbilt, the new gift is not only the most significant contribution of its kind but also a testament to the Clark Foundation’s confidence in the program’s continued success.

Clark Scholars at the university have gone on to work for leading technology companies, pursue groundbreaking research in biomedical and environmental engineering, and undertake service projects that directly impact the Nashville community. Some now lead nonprofits, others have launched start-ups, and many are pursuing graduate degrees at top institutions nationwide.

The infusion of $16.5 million will enable Vanderbilt to increase the number of Clark Scholars enrolled each year and expand programming that bridges academic experiences with community impact. Plans include strengthening mentorship connections, forging deeper partnerships with local organizations, and expanding leadership seminars that challenge students to think not only about what they can engineer, but what they ought to engineer.

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier has described the impact as transformative, noting that Clark Scholars represent a vision of education where access, leadership, and service are inseparable.

As Vanderbilt prepares to welcome its next cohort of Clark Scholars, a palpable sense of momentum is evident. Students and faculty alike describe the program as a living legacy—something that honors the vision of A. James Clark is continuously adapting to the changing needs of society. For the young engineers who now carry the Clark title, the recent gift represents both opportunity and responsibility. It is a powerful reminder that someone believes deeply in their potential and expects them to pass that investment forward. In the words of one scholar, “This program didn’t just help me become an engineer. It taught me that my future belongs not only to me, but to the communities I serve.”

Eight years after it first took root in Nashville, the Clark Scholars Program has grown into one of the university’s defining initiatives. With the Foundation’s latest commitment, it seems destined not only to endure, but to expand its reach, its influence, and its promise for generations of Vanderbilt engineers to come.

The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is a private charitable organization established and funded by the Clark family, specifically by engineer and philanthropist A. James Clark and his wife Alice B. Clark. Since A. James Clark’s death in 2015, the Foundation has been overseen by key members of the Clark family and their trusted advisors, in line with Mr. Clark’s vision for a planned spend-down of his philanthropic estate within 10 years.

As of 2025, the leadership and stewardship of the Foundation have prominently included:

Courtney Clark Pastrick—Mr. Clark’s daughter, who serves as the Board Chair and has been central to directing the foundation’s mission and values.

Joe Del Guercio—President and CEO, responsible for the Foundation’s operations and execution of its philanthropic strategy.

Other senior leaders, such as Ashley Williams (COO) and Sarah Elbert (Director of Communications), have played essential roles in overseeing daily functions and communications.

The Foundation itself is directly funded and ultimately steered by the Clark family, with Courtney Clark Pastrick seen as the primary family representative on the board.

As it concludes its planned sunset in 2025, its leadership has remained focused on honoring the legacy and wishes of its founders, making significant philanthropic investments in education, veterans’ initiatives, and the Washington, D.C. community.