University of Memphis Launches Weil Scholars Program with Major Alumni Gift
The University of Memphis has announced the launch of the Weil Scholars Program—a new merit-based scholarship initiative aimed at attracting top-performing students. The program is being funded by a significant donation from U of M alumnus Burton Weil and is expected to have a lasting impact on the university’s ability to recruit high-achieving students and maintain its reputation as a nationally recognized research institution.
The Weil Scholars Program will provide full tuition and fee coverage for students at the undergraduate, graduate, and law levels. Recipients will be selected based on academic merit, including GPA and standardized test scores. In addition to 24 incoming freshmen, the program will support 20 graduate students, four law students at the University of Memphis, and four medical students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
University of Memphis President Bill Hardgrave said the program aligns with the school’s long-term goals and strategic plan.
“The breadth and depth of this program’s reach will have a lasting impact on the U of M and will elevate our national recruitment efforts,” Hardgrave said. “This initiative will be instrumental as we continue to distinguish the University of Memphis as a nationally recognized R1 research institution.”
The program specifically targets graduate students pursuing degrees in biomedical engineering, business administration, computer science, data science, engineering, and public health. Scholarships are renewable through the completion of each recipient’s degree program.
Dean Abby Parrill of the College of Arts and Sciences emphasized the program’s value in competing for high-caliber students.
“The Weil Scholars Program will help the U of M compete for outstanding undergraduate students in competitive fields of study, as well as secure top candidates for research-intensive graduate programs,” Parrill said. “These high-caliber students will have access to the most competitive funding offers and resources to support their leadership and development on campus.”
Burton Weil earned his MBA from the University of Memphis in 1966 and also holds a law degree from Vanderbilt University. He later founded the private equity firm Venture Associates Partners. The scholarship program is being funded through the Burton Weil Family Foundation at the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.
“It’s a privilege for me to help these outstanding students by providing them with the financial support they need so they can develop their talents and pursue their passions,” Weil said. “It is my hope that they will grow to love Memphis as much as I do.”
