The Louise C. and Earl Applegate Fund
Although neither of my parents had the opportunity for a college education, they both recognized the importance of education and achievement. My mother decided to work outside the home in order to send my sister and me to college. She died before I graduated from college, and I never had the chance to thank her publicly for giving me my start in life. I am deeply indebted to both my parents for their encouragement of my academic achievement and their financial support that allowed me to finish college, complete graduate education, and pursue a rewarding professional career. For this reason, I decided to establish an endowed fund in my parents' names to serve as a permanent tribute to them and to create similar educational opportunities for young women of great promise, who may have limited means.
I chose to create this endowment through University's Initiatives For Women because it is a program that enriches the educational and career opportunities for all women at the University - from cleaner to administrator, first-year student to Full Professor. I have great respect for the talented group of University women who have made Initiatives For Women such a success and I want to support their work and their goals.
The Louie C. and Earl M. Applegate Fund will provide awards to support the enhancement of educational and career opportunities for women at the University at Albany. My plan is to increase the endowment over time to support additional awards.
--Meredith Butler (February 2002)
