$500k Gift Provides Scholarships for Veterans

The ReserveAid Scholarship is named for Master Gunnery Sergeant Polly Weidenkopf (center). Joining Polly in accepting the gift are (l-r) Vice President for Development Fardin Sanai, accounting student Jennifer Lischak, a nine-year veteran who served in Iraq, President Havidán Rodríguez and Director of the Student Financial Center and Veteran Services Joel Davis. (Photo by Carlo de Jesus)

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 27, 2017) – Military veterans have dedicated their lives to aiding and protecting others. Thanks to a $500,000 gift to the University at Albany from a nonprofit established by an alum, a new scholarship program will assist veterans as they return from deployment.

ReserveAid, a charity founded by Lucas K. Detor ’94, was established to meet immediate and critical needs of reservists and their families. In a ceremony today at UAlbany’s Veterans’ Wall of Honor, Polly Weidenkopf, a veteran and Executive Director of ReserveAid, presented UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez with a check for $500,000. The scholarship has been named in Weidenkopf’s honor.

“I am delighted and grateful that ReserveAid has chosen to endow this scholarship at UAlbany,” said President Rodriguez. “As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, I am particularly proud that our student body currently includes more than 200 veterans of military service. The Polly Weidenkopf ReserveAid Scholarship will provide critical financial assistance to veterans to pursue their education at UAlbany after serving their country.”

Lucas Detor '94 (Accounting)

“We founded ReserveAid in 2006 to honor and help the heroes who have served our country,” said Lucas Detor. “I am so pleased we can extend our reach to the education of military veterans at UAlbany through The Polly Weidenkopf ReserveAid Scholarship. I am especially pleased that the scholarship is named after Master Gunnery Sergeant Weidenkopf.  It is because of her leadership and commitment that we are able to fund this endowment, which will help many veterans earn the world-class education they deserve.”

Detor graduated with a degree in accounting from UAlbany’s School of Business. As a sophomore he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and later the New York National Guard. Now part of the executive team at CarVal Investors, Detor previously held positions at Pricewaterhouse, the United States Secret Service, and Morgan Stanley.

Military veterans, Reservists and/or Guardsman from all branches of the armed forces are eligible for the Polly Weidenkopf Reserve Aid Scholarship. Recipients must pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree at UAlbany.

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