Burton Weil Establishes Scholarship Program to Support Top Students at the University of Memphis
Nearly 60 years after earning his MBA from the University of Memphis, Burton Weil is making a historic return to support the next generation of leaders. With the backing of the Burton Weil Family Foundation, U of M has launched the Weil Scholars Program—an ambitious new scholarship initiative designed to recruit and reward high-achieving students from across the country.
Weil, founder of the private equity firm Venture Associate Partners, said he hopes the program will give students the financial support they need to grow their talents and discover a love for Memphis along the way.
In its first year, the Weil Scholars Program will cover full tuition for 24 incoming freshmen, provided they remain in good academic standing. It will also offer up to $10,000 per year to select graduate students and law students at U of M’s Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The program is expected to expand its reach over time and continue indefinitely—making Weil’s gift one of the most significant in the university’s history.
But the scholarship isn’t easy to get. Undergraduate applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA and qualify for the Helen Hardin Honors College as well as an existing merit-based scholarship. Graduate students must have a 3.75 GPA, be nominated by their department, and demonstrate a commitment to leadership development. Graduate-level applicants must also be studying in one of six key fields: biomedical engineering, business administration, computer science, data science, engineering, or public health.
Recipients at all levels will be required to take part in professional development as part of the scholarship experience.
Beyond financial aid, the program is designed to strengthen the University of Memphis as a whole. As Dean Abby Parrill of the College of Arts and Sciences put it, “The exceptional students recruited into this enticing program will enhance the U of M’s competitive reputation for excellence.”
The initiative will also help U of M retain its R1 research designation—an elite status it earned in 2021 from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Since then, U of M has been working to build national prestige as a research university, with graduate students playing a critical role in its success.
“The Weil Scholars Program encourages students who are passionate about innovation and leadership to choose the U of M,” said President Bill Hardgrave. “This initiative supports the pillars of our strategic plan and will be instrumental as we continue to distinguish the University of Memphis as a nationally recognized R1 research institution.”
