Albert Stewart devoted his life to pursuing knowledge and fighting to educate financially
insecure youth. His recent estate gift of $1.5 million to Saint Louis University established
a new scholarship and brings the University a step closer to its goal of raising $500
million dollars as part of Accelerating Excellence: The Campaign for Saint Louis University.
For the recipients of the new scholarship, however, his generous gift is so much more
than numbers and dollar signs. For these students, the gift means opportunity.
That gift is what is now known as the Albert and Colleen Stewart Scholarship, which made its first awards at Saint Louis University during the 2018-2019 academic year. Albert C. Stewart (A&S ’51) was one of the first black men to receive a doctoral degree from Saint Louis University, as well as a veteran, educator, business executive, dean and life-long activist. Named in honor of Stewart and his wife, Colleen, the scholarship benefits full-time undergraduate students in any area of study who are in good academic standing and have a demonstrated financial need.
Jennifer Ware, a junior double-majoring in psychology and social work, is one of the 62 students who were awarded the Albert and Colleen Stewart Scholarship. Although undecided on a degree program when entering SLU, Ware was fairly certain she wanted to major in psychology and possibly go on to be a therapist or counselor for individuals struggling with addiction. Her scholarship, however, allowed her the time to truly figure out what path was best for her future.
“I think it gave me more flexibility in giving me time to figure out what I absolutely wanted to study at SLU,” she said. “I had time to explore different areas of study and then decide on social work and psychology, whereas I’m not sure I would’ve had that much flexibility without the scholarship.”
Without the scholarship, Ware says she may have chosen a different major based on financial limitations, felt more pressure to choose and stay with a major, or even not have been able to attend SLU at all. And she is not alone.
Sarah Jones, a junior majoring in international studies and sociology, says she’d be at a different university if it weren’t for scholarships such as the Albert and Colleen Stewart Scholarship. Now, however, she can’t imagine herself anywhere else.
“I’ve met amazing people; I’ve worked with amazing professors, and I’m getting to do really cool things in my student organizations,” Jones says.
She also studied abroad in South Africa through a Jesuit program at Fordham University in the 2019 spring semester – something that was possible because of the Albert and Colleen Stewart Scholarship. While in South Africa, Jones partnered with an after-school care center to provide immigrant children in an informal settlement, or shantytown, with a baking class, and, in turn, a more relaxed setting to practice English.
As Jones explains, Southern Africa has 11 different languages, but English is the language of commerce and is essential for getting jobs. “But the children in these informal settlements really only speak English at school, and even then it’s not always great English instruction,” Jones says. Her baking class made the children feel a bit more comfortable while also strengthening their English conversational and reading skills.
From exploring true callings to spreading the greater good in communities around the world, the Albert and Colleen Stewart Scholarship has already opened many doors for students. But despite the varying paths students take, Ware and Jones both say that scholarships such as this give students access to opportunities that they may not have had otherwise, including attending SLU in the first place.
So what would they say to Albert and Colleen Stewart if they could talk with them today?
“Thank you for giving back to SLU and SLU students,” Ware says, “and furthering a younger generation’s education and providing more opportunities.”