$56 million gift from Hugh Hoffman’s family creates a scholarship program at three colleges
Cincinnati’s Hoffman family has established a new scholarship program at three University of Cincinnati colleges.
A $56 million gift will create the Hoffman Honors Scholars Program and support student-athletes with an extraordinary endowment.
It is the largest donation to scholarships in UC’s 200-plus-year history.
The announcement was made by Hugh Hoffman’s nephews, Bert and Steve Bullock.
Hoffman Honors Scholars will consist of undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College-Conservatory of Music and the Carl H. Lindner College of Business. The first student cohort will be selected before the 2024-2025 academic year.
“This historic investment in our students will change lives long into our future and build a pipeline of graduates with exceptional academic and leadership experience,” said UC President Neville G. Pinto.
“I deeply appreciate Mr. Hoffman and his family’s passion for student success. His generosity will lift generations of Bearcats.”
The Hoffman Honors Scholars Program reflects Hoffman’s high regard for education, serving the community and travel. The program will be a unique opportunity, offering financial support and growth opportunities.
Students will build their global awareness through international experiences, bolster their professional experience through internships or co-ops and develop as problem solvers through service projects, lectures and leadership development.
The Hoffman Honors Scholars will work across disciplines and participate in service-learning projects while partnering with local organizations and companies.
The culmination of this program will be the graduation of leaders and problem solvers who will be highly competitive in the workforce, making a positive imprint on the world.
“Mr. Hoffman’s extraordinary gift creates educational opportunities for UC students to create a better future for themselves and our communities,” said UC Provost Valerio Ferme. “The Hoffman Honors Scholars Program will allow successful students, who via combinations of merit and need qualify for this wonderful award, to earn a degree and become globally minded leaders that can make a positive impact in our rapidly changing world.”
“This historic investment in our students will change lives long into our future and build a pipeline of graduates with exceptional academic and leadership experience. I deeply appreciate Mr. Hoffman and his family’s passion for student success. “
In addition to the Hoffman Honors Scholars, the Hugh H. Hoffman Scholarship Fund will support UC student-athletes with a $14 million investment. Hoffman intended to support student-athletes in a variety of sports, in particular, female student-athletes.
“For many student-athletes, scholarships can make the difference between pursuing a higher education or not,” said UC Athletics Director John Cunningham. “They are also critical to our ability to recruit the nation’s top talent as we compete on the Big 12 stage. We are honored and grateful for this unprecedented investment by Mr. Hoffman, which will help ensure that our Bearcats get the holistic support they need to succeed in our classrooms, our new conference and our communities.”
The youngest son of Herbert H. Hoffman and Madeline Rowe, Hoffman was a fourth-generation Cincinnatian whose family prioritized giving to the community. He was the nephew of Stanley M. Rowe, Sr., and Dorothy Snowden Rowe, the founders of the Stanley M. Rowe Arboretum. His uncle also founded the Cincinnati Nature Center.
The family’s support of UC spans multiple generations, dating back to Hoffman’s grandparents, Fanny and Casper Rowe. The couple began giving to the university in 1930 and established a scholarship fund in 1954.
Hoffman’s long history of supporting UC students included the creation of endowed scholarships at the College of Arts and Science, the College-Conservatory of Music and the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.