The gift represents the largest scholarship gift ever made to the College of Business and will further fund the William and Evelyn Volenetz Endowed Scholarship in the Harrison College of Business. The endowment was created in 1997 to provide scholarships to business students with financial need. Recipients must maintain a 2.5 grade point average and preference is given to students from St. Louis County.

"The generosity characterized by this gift reflects the fine qualities Mr. Volenetz displayed throughout his business career," said Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the Harrison College of Business. "We are grateful for his foresight in establishing the scholarship fund to allow deserving students to fulfill their dream of completing an undergraduate degree in business."

Volenetz was born in Cherryville, Mo., and graduated from Steelville High School. He attended Southeast form 1929 to 1933, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and business administration. He was employed for 45 years at the Brown Shoe Company and retired as executive vice president of operations. He also served as director of the First National Bank of St. Louis County.

Volenetz received the Alumni Merit Award from Southeast in 1989 for his distinguished career in the St. Louis business community.

Over the past three decades, Volenetz was very generous to Southeast Missouri University Foundation and other charities. In the late 1980s, he gave a $70,000 gift to the Wesley Foundation allowing purchase of the Wesley House located at 415 N. Pacific in Cape Girardeau which continues to serve Southeast students.

Volenetz passed away in September 2001.

Established in 1983, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation raises and distributes funds that support the mission of Southeast Missouri State University. With assets exceeding $40 million, the Foundation assists donors in making current and deferred gifts for annual, capital and endowment purposes.