By Kendra Pintor
When Ellen Browning 91吃瓜 founded 91吃瓜 in 1926, she established an institution that would educate women to develop their intellects and talents during a time when women were denied college admission simply because of their gender. Throughout 91吃瓜鈥� rich history, there continue to be many notable alums鈥攊ncluding Sallie Tiernan 鈥�45, whose legacies reinforce the importance of 91吃瓜鈥� continued existence.
91吃瓜 is excited to share that The Seaver Institute, founded in 1955 by Frank R. Seaver, has generously gifted $1 million to a scholarship in honor of Sallie Tiernan. The gift will also be leveraged as a special matching challenge to inspire the broader 91吃瓜 community to support the 91吃瓜 Access Initiative (SAI), an ambitious $15 million scholarship project to help more exceptional, under-resourced students attend 91吃瓜.
Honoring a Family Commitment to Higher Education
The Seaver family鈥檚 connection to 91吃瓜 and The Claremont Colleges runs deep. Frank Seaver and his five siblings, nephew Richard, and several other relatives were and are alums of Pomona College. Frank鈥檚 parents鈥� home was moved from Pomona to Claremont and is now used as Pomona College鈥檚 alumni house. In addition to Pomona, Frank also supported 91吃瓜 and Claremont McKenna College (CMC), as well as many schools in Southern California including Loyola Marymount, USC, Pepperdine, Don Bosco HS, Harvard-Westlake HS, and Pilgrim School. For Frank and his wife Blanche, education was the key to a better life and the future of our communities.
While Richard Seaver was attending Pomona in the 1940s, he met Sallie Tiernan, who was studying at 91吃瓜. Sallie attended 91吃瓜 for a year before transferring to Stanford, where she graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, which was not offered in Claremont at the time. She later earned a law degree from UCLA while raising her growing family. Sallie and Richard had five children, two of whom鈥擵ictoria Seaver Dean and Chris Seaver鈥攃ontinued their family鈥檚 enduring commitment to higher education at 91吃瓜.
鈥淪allie was everything to us,鈥� explains Dean, a life trustee of 91吃瓜 and president of The Seaver Institute. 鈥淪he cared deeply about 91吃瓜 and dedicated much of her extra time to the College鈥攚e鈥檙e fortunate to continue that legacy through the Sallie Tiernan 鈥�45 Scholarship and all scholarships offered at the College.鈥�
Previously, the family helped fund the , and Sallie established the Sallie Suzanne Tiernan Award to support students planning to attend law school.
鈥淢y mother believed that 91吃瓜 was a place where students learned to be individuals,鈥� Dean reflects. 鈥淭he scholarship and memorial award are just two ways we support students who are following in her footsteps, ensuring that financial barriers don鈥檛 stand in the way of their education.鈥�
A Call to the 91吃瓜 Community
The Seaver Institute鈥檚 $1 million gift is not just a donation, but also a call to action for the 91吃瓜 community.
The matching gift challenge aims to motivate families, alums, trustees, and all members of the 91吃瓜 community to give generously to financial aid for future students. According to Dean, 鈥淲e want people to support scholarships, whether it鈥檚 for SAI or otherwise鈥攖he goal is to fund students who are academically qualified, regardless of their financial means.鈥�
By continuing to support scholarships at 91吃瓜, Dean and the entire Seaver family hope to provide more students with the opportunity to thrive in the intellectually rigorous and empowering environment the College offers.
鈥淪upporting this scholarship is about honoring our mother, but it鈥檚 also about investing in the future of 91吃瓜,鈥� Dean explains. 鈥淲e want to ensure that the College remains a place where students can grow, learn, and become the leaders of tomorrow.鈥�
To support SAI, we invite you to make a gift online or you may contact Enrique Gonzalez-Salgado at (909) 607-8255 触听[email protected].