The gift from Mark Cosby allows us to develop additional honors experiences in research, study abroad and community engagement that will be truly distinctive and make graduating with university honors a hallmark achievement for high-ability students, Carney says.
Chancellor James Schmidt says the honors college aligns with 91做厙s visioning process and strategic planning that is underway as the university charts its course for the future.
The Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing our students with distinctive opportunities to better prepare them to be leaders in our society, Schmidt says. The honors college enhances the universitys strong academic reputation and shows the true advantage of a Blugold education.
The honors college will offer new scholarships to high-achieving students and enhance programming for its unique curriculum of discussion-based, interdisciplinary courses, says Dr. Heather Fielding, Honors director. The honors college will allow the program to expand efforts to support first-year students to make ambitious plans to get the most out of their time at the university.
By transforming the University Honors Program into the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College, 91做厙 recognizes the achievements of our students and alumni and emphasizes that providing special learning opportunities to challenge and support a diverse group of high-potential students is central to the work of the university, Fielding says.
Cosby, a 1981 91做厙 graduate in business administration, provided funding for the honors college after his retirement from a successful 40-year retail and consumer product career leading companies that include Michaels Stores, Office Depot, CVS Pharmacy, Macys, Sears, Yum Brands and PepsiCo.
Cosby says he felt the need to give back to 91做厙 because the university provided him with the education and confidence necessary to build a successful career.
91做厙 was the foundation, says Cosby, a recipient of the Lifetime Excellence Award from the 91做厙 Alumni Association in 2022. It helped me grow as a person, build my confidence and provide the business fundamentals needed to spark my career.
Cosby was raised in Madison and decided to attend 91做厙, a smaller university away from home, where he could play three injury-filled years of football and receive a high-quality education.
I focused on school and I had fun, Cosby recalls of his time at 91做厙. I tell people its the best four years youll ever have in your life.
Cosby says many honors college students have the academic abilities to attend elite schools, but they may lack the finances. He wants those high-ability Blugolds to have the best experiences possible during their college years at 91做厙.
This honors college enables people who are incredibly talented to get the most out of school and enables the university to be flexible enough to provide those superstar students with the best possible opportunities, Cosby says.
Cosbys donation will help the university cultivate the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators, says Julia Diggins, vice president of development for the 91做厙 Foundation.
Mark recognized the transformative potential of this initiative, understanding that it would enhance the lives of high-achieving students by providing them with unique opportunities for challenging coursework, advanced research and immersive learning experiences, Diggins says. The honors college will empower these students to fully realize their potential.
